Mass in A major
Organ version (Coro SATB) FWV 12, 1860
César Franck’s great orchestral Mass in A major of 1861 is one of the works which the composer wrote for liturgical use at St. Clotilde in Paris, the church where he played for many years as a famous organist and organ improviser. Probably because of concerns on the part of his publisher, a few years after Franck composed his orchestral Mass he reworked it for much smaller forces: instead of orchestra, just organ, harp, cello, and double bass are required.
It was this version of the work was first published in 1872 in Paris. As well as the orchestral version (40.646/00), Carus-Verlag also publishes this much reduced version – both in the original, now rather unusual, choral scoring for soprano, tenor, and bass (40.646/50), and in a four-part scoring adapted for modern-day choirs (40.646/60).
It was this version of the work was first published in 1872 in Paris. As well as the orchestral version (40.646/00), Carus-Verlag also publishes this much reduced version – both in the original, now rather unusual, choral scoring for soprano, tenor, and bass (40.646/50), and in a four-part scoring adapted for modern-day choirs (40.646/60).
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Composer
César Franck
| 1822-1890Der Vater erkannte früh seine Begabung und gab ihn 1831 zur musikalischen Ausbildung an das Konservatorium Lüttich in Belgien. Vier Jahre später zog die Familie nach Paris, wo der fünfzehnjährige César ebenfalls am Konservatorium aufgenommen wurde und in die Klavierklasse Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermanns kam. Auch besuchte er die Klassen in Kontrapunkt bei Aimé Ambroise Simon Leborne, Komposition bei Henri-Montan Berton und Orgel bei François Benoist. In dieser Zeit entstanden seine ersten kammermusikalischen Werke, wie die 3 trios concertants für Violine, Violoncello und Klavier. 1858 wurde er Titularorganist in der Ste. Clotilde-Kirche in Paris, für welche er ein eigenes Repertoire komponierte. Darunter befindet sich u.a. das Oratorium über Die Sieben Worte Jesu am Kreuz 1859, welches beim Carus-Verlag erhältlich ist.
Personal details
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Editor
Armin Landgraf
Frequent questions about this work
Franck’s Mass can be performed in various different scorings. What are these exactly?
There are two original scoring options: for soloists, choir, and orchestra (original version), and a reduction made by the composer for soloists, choir, and a small ensemble comprising harp, cello, double bass, and organ. As the organ plays in just one movement in the orchestral version, as an alternative it is possible to transfer all the wind parts to the organ, so that the Mass can be performed with just strings, harp, and organ.
In line with 19th century fashion, Franck scored the choir for just three vocal parts (STB). The options listed above can be be performed both with the original three-part choir and in a four-part version carefully adapted to match choral forces more typically found nowadays.
The scores of the organ versions (40.646/50 with three-part choir, and 40.646/60 with four-part choir) can be used for choir rehearsals for the orchestral version.
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