Uncovering the Mystery of Franck’s Forgotten Symphony

Franck’s success as a composer came relatively late, with the majority of his major orchestral works being written in the last decade of his life. After a childhood of being touted as a prodigy by his money-hungry father, Franck cut ties with his family and settled into a quieter (although highly-regarded) life as an organist and teacher. After fellow organist J.S. Bach, Franck was arguably one of the most important contributors to the instrument’s repertoire and spent several years as the resident organist at the basilica church, Saint-Clotilde, in Paris.

Despite being one of France’s most influential musical figures at the time, Franck was actually born in modern-day Belgium. Perhaps this is why, unlike his contemporaries (notably Saint-Saëns), he was a keen proponent of programming foreign composers’ works. Unfortunately for Franck, this could also be the reason that his only published symphony initially received a less than enthusiastic response.

The Symphony in D minor was premiered, reluctantly, by the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire in February of 1889. This came during a time, in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War, where Parisians were nursing a growing distaste for German sounds. Franck on the other hand was less worried about the so-called “L’invasion germanique” and freely incorporated Wagnerian musical elements into his later compositions, innovatively fusing both French and Austro-German styles.

Despite a somewhat lacklustre response in France, Franck’s symphony quickly gained popularity elsewhere. Within just a few years of its premiere, the Symphony in D minor became one of the most frequently performed French symphonies across Europe and the United States. Its popularity continued for decades to come as a source of enjoyment for audiences and inspiration for composers such as Debussy, Dukas and Chausson.

To this day, the Symphony in D minor is regarded as one of the best examples of a Romantic cyclical work (a structure that Franck was later credited with developing) and a deft combination of Classical and Romantic traditions (namely, the three-movement structure).

Why, then, has a piece that marked the peak of the composer’s life in music and so ambitiously melded opposing European musical traditions disappeared from the modern-day orchestral canon?

Some say that its popularity was also its downfall. After years as an orchestral staple, it has been argued that audiences simply grew tired of their overfamiliarity with the music. Others say that orchestras moved away from the symphony’s relative simplicity in favour of more complex and virtuosic works that emerged. Maybe it was a result of changing musical tastes in a more secular age or perhaps it was all of these things combined.

Despite being ‘forgotten’ in the modern day, the rise and fall of the Symphony in D minor’s popularity is exactly why it should be celebrated. Well, that and the fact that it’s a genuinely great piece of music. It speaks to the power of audiences, highlighting that our listeners are the driving force behind what we do.

The Forgotten Symphony, performed at Perth Concert Hall on 23 & 24 August and at Albany Entertainment Centre on 30 & 31 August, is a celebration not only of the opportunity to hear this rarely-performed masterpiece but of why we here at WASO share music – for our audience; for the enjoyment of all West Australians.

The Forgotten Symphony

23 & 24 August, Perth Concert Hall
30 & 31 August, Albany Entertainment Centre
Tickets on Sale now.