Prelude Fugue et Variation, Six Pieces

Franck of the month is the third of the Six Pieces, that most lyrical of works.

The choice of organ was problematic. I really wanted to use one of the smaller CC organs, Begard or Oloron, which are both magical. However, I felt that the lack of a third manual was missed in the fugue. So, the choice was between St Omer, Caen or Nancy. The acoustic of Nancy and the associated lack of intimacy, combined with the, none to beautiful, Positif ruled this instrument out.
Caen, whilst in a cavernous acoustic did, somehow seem to capture the intimacy required, but the fabulous Flute Harmonique was just too big for the beautiful Recit Hautbois in the variation.
St Omer has a really gorgeous Hautbois on the Recit and, whilst the Bombarde Harmonique is too big, the 4' Octave down an octave sounds ravishing in the arabesque figurations.

I think this is a piece with which it is difficult to ever feel happy with one's interpretation but I think it was the best of me on Sunday 25th May 2025.

I hope that, if you listen to it, you will get something from my performance of this enigmatic and charming work.