The Complete Organ Works of César Franck
Jean Langlais, organ
Original Franck organ, Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde, Paris

A re-mastered edition of Langlais' landmark 1963 recording of César Franck's complete organ works—played on Franck's organ at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris. Langlais was an advocate of playing Franck's works with freedom and judicious rubato, using Franck's original registrations. These practices were endorsed by Charles Tournemire, Franck's successor and Langlais' immediate predecessor as organist of Sainte-Clotilde, but were opposed by Marcel Dupré and his followers. Although Dupré greatly influenced American organists, the Franck performance tradition was kept alive by Langlais and others, as this definitive recording shows.

CD 1
Six Pièces (1860-62)
     Fantaisie in C major, Op. 16 (dedicated to Alexis Chauvet)
     Grande Pièce Symphonique, Op. 17 (dedicated to Charles-Valentin Alkan)
     Prélude, Fugue et Variation, Op. 18 (dedicated to Camille Sain-Saëns)
     Prière, Op. 20 (dedicated to Francois Benoist)
     Final, Op. 21 (dedicated to A. Lefébure-Wély)

CD 2
Pastorale, Op. 19 (dedicated to Aristide Cavaillé-Coll)

Trois Pièces (1878)
   Fantaisie in A major
   Cantabile
   Pièce Héroïque

Trois Chorals (1890)
   Choral No. 1 in E major (decidated to Eugène Gigout)
   Choral No. 2 in B minor (dedicated to Auguste Durand)
   Choral No. 3 in A minor (dedicated to Augusta Holmès)