Description: César Franck (1822-1890) composed the Six Duos, FWV 89 in 1888, during the final and most productive period of his career, which also saw the creation of such masterpieces as the Symphony in D minor and the String Quartet. Written for two equal voices and piano, the collection sets French texts by several poets, including Amable Tastu, Alphonse Daudet, Marceline Desbordes-Valmore, Guy Ropartz, and André Theuriet. The six miniatures (L’Ange gardien; Aux petits enfants; La Vierge à la crèche; Les danses de Lormont; Soleil; and La chanson du vannier) reflect the intimacy of the French salon tradition, displaying Franck’s gift for lyrical melody, sensitive text setting, and warm harmonic language. Today, Six Duos occupies a modest but respected place within Franck’s vocal output, viewed as refined examples of late nineteenth-century French mélodie and increasingly appreciated through modern recordings and renewed interest in the composer’s lesser-known vocal works. Reprint edition.

• M358591 / 36-M358591 SIX DUOS, FWV 89 VS $10.95Buy Now