César Franck (1822-1890) Violin Sonata in A major

     One of the heroes of French music, César Franck was actually Belgian in origin.  He was born in Liége, in the Waloon region of Belgium, but his family moved to Paris by the time he was 13 years of age.  He was exploited for his musical talents as a child, and like Mozart, he was hauled on performing tours across Europe.  As an adult, he taught music, conducted choral groups, and was organist at Notre Dame de Lorette (in northeast France).

     In 1871, he along with Saint-Seäns and other nationalistic Frenchmen founded Société Nationale du Musique, an organization devoted to promoting new and progressive French music.  In 1873, he was finally naturalized as a French citizen and was able to teach at the Conservatoire de Musique in Paris.  He gradually became one of the leading composers in France, and helped distinguish the French style in opposition to the German style.  He went on to receive the Légion d’Honneur and in 1886 he was elected president of the Société Nationale.

      That same year, Franck composed the Violin Sonata in A major, which has become, along with the Piano Quintet in f minor and the Symphony in d minor, one of his most well-known works.  Like the other two compositions mentioned, this sonata features cyclical construction—all the movements are unified by the use of the same melodic components.  The shape of the melody first introduced by the violin is used in a related derivation in most of the subsequent melodies.  The last movement is one of the most popular movement in the violin sonata repertoire.  It begins with a softly beautiful melody in the piano, ensued canonically by the violin.  The chase is playful and friendly, and this spirit continues throughout the movement, although interrupted by developmental episodes.  The sonata was premiered by top violin virtuoso of the day fellow Belgian and Eugene Ysaÿe.