The Belgian-born French composer César Franck was born on this date 200 years ago.

I was slow to warm to Franck’s highly-regarded Symphony in D minor, in particular to the insipid theme of the last movement. It’s taken decades, but I think I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m willing to concede its overall greatness.

Much more congenial to me have always been Franck’s symphonic poems and his lovely chamber music.

No comment on the organ works – although I once attended a “Franckathon” at St. Clement’s Church in Philadelphia, back in the 1990s, at which his complete output for the instrument was presented, with two intermissions. Just to say that I did. Well, that and for the free doughnuts and coffee.

He may very well have had the finest mutton chops in the world, I’ll grant him that.

Happy bicentennial, César Franck!

Symphony in D minor (insipid theme starts at 28:39)

“Le Chasseur maudit” (“The Accursed Huntsman”)

Piano Quintet in F minor

Violin Sonata in A major

“Grande pièce symphonique,” played by Marcel Dupré

Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHftZ2-w4XE

And, for the season, “Panis Angelicus”