Parlez Vous Francaix?

[Ken B]

Rota is good too.

I will now leave while the serialists have a conniption.

[Mirror Image]

Rota is good too.

I will now leave while the serialists have a conniption.

[amw]

Rota is good too.

I will now leave while the serialists have a conniption.

Too late, it's the 21st century. Helmut Lachenmann's favourite composer is Ennio Morricone, Michael Finnissy is a good buddy of Howard Skempton and I heard Charles Wuorinen's next opera is going to be about the life and times of Cole Porter.

[Ken B]

See John? I told ya!

[Mirror Image]

See John? I told ya!

Ah, but I'm not a serialist.

[snyprrr]

Ah, but I'm not a serialist.

Count Chocula no dount!

[Mirror Image]

This is a very cool work by Francaix:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Hf3wnzGNgcs

[Mirror Image]

What I'm finding in a lot of Francaix's music that I neglected to take notice of before when I unjustly dismissed him altogether was the fact that there are some haunting moments in much of his music that makes me immediately think there are traces of someone who is longing for something, or someone, in his life. He seems to be a man with a mask on, like so many composers, it's just a matter of finding out how to remove that mask.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

What I'm finding in a lot of Francaix's music that I neglected to take notice of before when I unjustly dismissed him altogether was the fact that there are some haunting moments in much of his music that makes me immediately think there are traces of someone who is longing for something, or someone, in his life. He seems to be a man with a mask on, like so many composers, it's just a matter of finding out how to remove that mask.

I'm unsure about the mask you speak of - I think with Francaix, what you see (hear) is what you get and that may well be the key to his charm.  His music never fails to delight and there's enough of it (over 200 compositions, I think) to keep us delighted for some time!  I'm new to the GMG Forum and so happy to see so many Francaix fans here (in this thread and in Current Listening).  Less proselytizing I need to do!   

[Ken B]

I'm unsure about the mask you speak of - I think with Francaix, what you see (hear) is what you get and that may well be the key to his charm.  His music never fails to delight and there's enough of it (over 200 compositions, I think) to keep us delighted for some time!  I'm new to the GMG Forum and so happy to see so many Francaix fans here (in this thread and in Current Listening).  Less proselytizing I need to do!   

Seems to fit Rota too, since we're on the topic of proselytizing ...

[Mirror Image]

I'm unsure about the mask you speak of - I think with Francaix, what you see (hear) is what you get and that may well be the key to his charm.  His music never fails to delight and there's enough of it (over 200 compositions, I think) to keep us delighted for some time!  I'm new to the GMG Forum and so happy to see so many Francaix fans here (in this thread and in Current Listening).  Less proselytizing I need to do!   

I don't agree. Something could be incredibly jovial and uplifting, but could have been written during the composer's darkest hours, so this gives the music an overall bittersweetness. I think things aren't always as straightforward as we would like to think they are. Many of the best composers are masters of the veil.

By the way, welcome aboard! Nice to meet another Francaix fan.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I don't agree. Something could be incredibly jovial and uplifting, but could have been written during the composer's darkest hours, so this gives the music an overall bittersweetness. I think things aren't always as straightforward as we would like to think they are. Many of the best composers are masters of the veil.

By the way, welcome aboard! Nice to meet another Francaix fan.

You may be right, Mirror Image, even in a composer such as Francaix whose stated goal was to create "musique pour faire plaisir."  I simply don't know enough about his life (other than reading about him in Grove and Ewen and CD inserts) to suggest anything 'definitive,' even were that possible!  Now, your friend Francis on the other hand....  Don't you think his Gloria rocks? (please forgive the mixed metaphor)?  Which performances do you like of it? 

[Mirror Image]

You may be right, Mirror Image, even in a composer such as Francaix whose stated goal was to create "musique pour faire plaisir."  I simply don't know enough about his life (other than reading about him in Grove and Ewen and CD inserts) to suggest anything 'definitive,' even were that possible!  Now, your friend Francis on the other hand....  Don't you think his Gloria rocks? (please forgive the mixed metaphor)?  Which performances do you like of it?

My favorite performances of Poulenc's Gloria? I really like Dutoit's a lot, but also Stephen Layton's performance on Hyperion. Thankfully, though, there are no shortages of great performances of this work.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

My favorite performances of Poulenc's Gloria? I really like Dutoit's a lot, but also Stephen Layton's performance on Hyperion. Thankfully, though, there are no shortages of great performances of this work.

Thanks - I have the Dutoit and love it!  I will look for the Layton. 

[Rinaldo]

The word charming was used before in this thread and it perfectly encapsulates my first encounter with Françaix, via:

https://www.youtube.com/v/t3mDBrx32rw

I love it when I stumble across music that 'clicks' with my current mood.

[Rinaldo]

From charmed to enamored:

https://www.youtube.com/v/A4U1PnHOtFE

Any future generations reading this – do yourself a favor and listen to the Larghetto (12:47).

[Karl Henning]

snypsss!  I cannot BELIEVE this!

Here, quick, use this:  ç

[North Star]

snypsss!  I cannot BELIEVE this!

Here, quick, use this:  ç

Searching for the topic would be even more fun after that.  0:)

[Karl Henning]

Hah!

[Ken B]

snypççç!  I cannot BELIEVE this!

Here, quick, use this:  ç

FTFY