Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Composer, Performer, Scholar

Donald Macleod examines the context of Farrenc's life. With Trente etudes dans tous les tons, Valse brillante, Symphony No 1 (1st mvt) and Piano Quintet No 1 in A minor.

Louise Farrenc may not be a household name in the twenty-first century, but in her own lifetime she enjoyed a career of international standing. She was an accomplished pianist, a valued teacher at the Paris Conservatoire and in the latter part of her life, she devoted the majority of her time to the preparation of a groundbreaking anthology of keyboard music dating from the 16th to the 19th century.

She was born in 1804, a year before Fanny Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn's older sister. However the fifty plus published works that make up her legacy, immediately set her apart. While the majority of her contemporaries had a tendency to focus on smaller forms, songs, choral works and salon pieces for the piano, Farrenc's creative interests involved writing music for much larger combinations of instruments, including quintets, a sextet, a nonet , orchestral overtures and three symphonies.

That's not to say she never contributed to vocal music. Research into Farrenc's extant legacy has established a small collection of her largely unpublished vocal works does exist. For the first time, especially for Composer of the Week, soprano Ruby Hughes, a former Radio 3 New Generation Artist and pianist Anna Tilbrook have recorded four of Farrenc's songs. The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Singers, under conductor David Hill have recorded the only two choral settings known to exist. There's an opportunity to hear these vocal rarities spread across the week.

Donald Macleod begins his survey by examining the context of Louise Farrenc's life. Paris born, she remained in the capital, a centre of musical excellence, her whole life. In addition to keyboard and chamber output, there's a glimpse of her vocal writing too, in the ballad Andréa le Folle, heard for the first time in a recording made specially for Composer of the Week.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 2 Nov 2015 18:30

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

See all episodes from Composer of the Week

Music Played

  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    30 Studies In Every Key Op.26 - Presto in B flat minor

    Performer: Konstanze Eickhorst.
    • LOUISE FARRENC - Valse brilliante op.48.
    • CPO.
    • 3.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    30 Studies In Every Key Op.26 - Presto in B flat minor

    Performer: Konstanze Eickhorst.
    • LOUISE FARRENC - Valse brilliante op.48.
    • CPO.
    • 3.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Andrea La Folle - Ballade

    Performer: Anna Tilbrook. Singer: Ruby Hughes.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Andrea La Folle - Ballade

    Performer: Anna Tilbrook. Singer: Ruby Hughes.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Valse Brilliante Op.48

    Performer: Konstanze Eickhorst.
    • Valse brilliante op.48.
    • CPO.
    • 11.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Valse Brilliante Op.48

    Performer: Konstanze Eickhorst.
    • Valse brilliante op.48.
    • CPO.
    • 11.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op.32

    Conductor: Johannes Goritzki.
    • CPO : 999-603-2.
    • CPO.
    • 1.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Symphony No. 1 In C Minor Op.32

    Conductor: Johannes Goritzki.
    • CPO : 999-603-2.
    • CPO.
    • 1.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Quintet No. 1 In A Minor Op.30

    Ensemble: Schubert Ensemble of London.
    • ASV: CD DCA 1122.
    • ASV.
    • 1.
  • Jeanne Louise Dumont Farrenc

    Quintet No. 1 In A Minor Op.30

    Ensemble: Schubert Ensemble of London.
    • ASV: CD DCA 1122.
    • ASV.
    • 1.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 2 Nov 2015 12:00
  • Mon 2 Nov 2015 18:30

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.