The piano and cello accentuate on different beats as the violin whizzes off. The exciting buzz of the finale movement is set off by the violin who plays a buzzing melody. Movement III – Allegro non troppo ma con fuoco Similarly to the opening movement, this section also ends quietly. The emotional undertones of this movement is what gives it its appeal, with critics claiming that this is the most successful of the three movements. The exploration of the melody is handled differently in this movement, with Franck utilising each part of the quintet, and passing the material across the ensemble.
Franck piano quintet program notes haydn full#
The lyrical middle movement is full of luscious melodies, which are once again led by the piano. As the other instruments join in for the main climax of the movement, the dynamic quickly drops, and the movement comes to a quiet, but stated, conclusion. This comes to a head when a nearly cadenza-like piano section takes off near the end of the movement. This effect creates space between the intense and dramatic section. Throughout this opening movement Franck uses the piano to intersperse quick-changing textures. The underlying rumblings of this movement build up to an intense central section that develops the principal theme. Set in F minor, the sombre undertones of the music add to the drama, especially when Franck writes short piano interludes at a quiet dynamic, with the strings entering loudly and dramatically. Primarily led by the piano in the slow introduction, Franck’s Romantic style creates rich textures between the quartet and piano.
The expansive opening movement rests on a typical classical sonata form with a slow introduction. Movement I – Molto moderato quasi lento – Allegro It was only then in the next century that audiences realised what a huge milestone the quintet was for the progression and development of French chamber music.Ĭast into three movements, Franck’s writing for the quintet is emotionally tumultuous, with Nadia Boulanger commenting that the work has the most dynamic changes in any chamber work composed. Due to the cool reception of the quintet, Franck only heard the work performed a small number of times before his death. Franck kept the work dedicated to Saint-Saëns even after the premiere. This was a sign that marked disdain towards the music. Although now regarded as one of Franck’s best musical achievements, scandal broke out at the premiere when Saint-Saëns finished performing and walked out straight away, leaving the music open and the piano lid. Premiered in 1880 by the Marsick Quartet and Camille Saint-Saëns at the piano, the quintet was dedicated to Saint-Saëns. César Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor ContextĬésar Franck’s highly emotional Piano Quintet sits strongly beside the French composer’s most popular works.