Jean Françaix
Upcoming Performances
About Jean Françaix
I wish to be honest: when I am composing, the finest theories are the last things that come to mind. My interest is not primarily attracted by the ‘motorways of thought’, but more the ‘paths through the woods’. (Jean Françaix)
Jean Françaix was born on 23.5.1912 in Le Mans in France. He received his first music lessons at home: his father was a composer and pianist and also director of the Conservatoire and his mother a singing teacher and the founder of a renowned choir. In 1922 at the age of only 10, Françaix received his first tuition in harmony and later also counterpoint from Nadia Boulanger. The young composer wrote his first composition the very same year: a piano piece entitled “Pour Jacqueline”, dedicated to a cousin, which was printed two years later. Encouraged by Maurice Ravel, he continued his studies at the Paris Conservatoire. Alongside his compositional training, Françaix embarked on a career as concert pianist. At the age of 18, he received the first prize in the piano class of Isidore Philipp. Two years later, he represented the young French school of composition together with Claude Delvincourt at the international music festival in Vienna where his Huit Bagatelles were performed.
Jean Françaix achieved international success in 1936 with the first performance of his Concertino for piano and orchestra at the chamber music festival in Baden-Baden. During the ensuing years, the composer extended his oeuvre with numerous works in a wide range of genres including operas, ballets, orchestral works and also solo concertos, film music and vocal works. The composer also focused intensively on chamber music. Françaix taught at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris from 1959 to 1962. He participated actively in concert life, frequently together with his daughter Claude as partner at the piano, right up to shortly before his death on 25.9.1997 in Paris.
Despite close contacts with Francis Poulenc and the “Groupe des Six” and a predilection for French Impressionism and the Neoclassicism of Stravinsky, Jean Françaix never felt committed to any particular musical ideology. The foundations of his tonal, melodically elegant and rhythmically incisive style were laid at an early stage. In contrast to the avant-gardists of his generation, Françaix did not question the traditional listening habits of his public as a matter of principle. In his instrumental music, he displayed a particular interest for wind instruments. Chamber works such as the Petit Quatuor pour saxophones (1935), Quintette à vents No. 1 (1948) and Tema con variazioni (1974) for clarinet and piano were adopted into the regular repertoire just as the solo concerto for oboe L’Horloge de Flore (1959) and the Concerto for clarinet and orchestra from 1967.
In addition to five operas and sixteen ballets – including A la Françaix which was premiered in 1950 by the New York City Ballet - the oratorio L’Apocalypse selon Saint Jean can be considered a major work from the composer’s extensive oeuvre. This composition, completed in 1939 and classified as an “oratorio fantastique”, demands four soloists, mixed choir and two orchestras. Despite the large-scale forces, Françaix avoids all forms of monumental pathos in his interpretation of the Apocalypse of St John in the New Testament – the music is characterised by deeply felt ardency and meditative strength.
Jean Françaix received numerous awards: the Prix du Portique in 1950, the Grand Prix du Disque within the area of chamber music in 1954, the Grand Prix du Disque as performer and composer in 1965, the Grand Prix de la Société des auteurs dramatiques in 1983, the Prix Arthur Honegger in 1992 and the Grand Prix SACEM de la musique symphonique in 1992. In addition, Françaix was awarded the title of Officier de la Légion d'Honneur (1991), Commandeur de l'Ordre du mérite culturel by the royal house of Monaco (1993) and the Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1994).
Worklist
Gallery
Chronology
in Vienna
Products
-
Two improvisations for 12 violoncellosComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreInstrumentation: 12 cellosProduct number: ED 7557In stock€21.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
-
Composer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreInstrumentation: 2 sopranos and string quartetProduct number: ME 8557In stock€28.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
-
Composer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of partsInstrumentation: 2 sopranos and string quartetProduct number: ME 8408In stock€39.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
-
par le vénèrable vieillard Jean Françaix et avec le concours des "Schott Boys"Composer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: small orchestra
-
for 3 orchestrasComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 3 orchestra
-
for 3 orchestrasComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: ScoreSeries: Cassazione
Instrumentation: 3 orchestraProduct number: ED 6649In stock€41.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Fantaisie sur des thèmes Schubert - FrançaixComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: wind band
-
pour harpe et 11 instruments à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: harp and 11 Streichinstruments
-
pour harpe et 11 instruments à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Chaconne
Instrumentation: harp and 11 StringinstrumentsProduct number: ED 6723In stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for pianoProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax
-
for piano and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixEdition: Piano reductionSeries: Edition Schott
Concertino
Instrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: ED 3288Product TypeIn stockAs low as €21.99Incl. Tax -
pour piano et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
-
for accordeon and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: accordion and orchestraProduct number: ED 8225Product TypeIn stockAs low as €34.99Incl. Tax -
for piano and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixEdition: Piano reduction, for 2 pianosSeries: Edition Schott
Concerto
Instrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: ED 3670Product TypeIn stockAs low as €23.99Incl. Tax -
pour contrebasse et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: double bass and orchestra
-
pour accordéon et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: accordion and orchestra
-
pour 15 solistes et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 15 soloists and orchestra
-
pour trombone et 10 instruments à ventComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: trombone and 10 wind instruments
-
pour guitare et orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: guitar and string orchestra
-
pour basson et 11 instruments à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: bassoon and 11 strings
-
pour 2 harpes et 11 instruments à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 2 harps and 11 strings
-
pour contrebasse et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: double bass and orchestra
-
pour flûte et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute and orchestra
-
pour clavecin et ensemble instrumentalComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: harpsichord and instrumentalensemble
-
pour deux pianos et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 2 pianos and orchestra
-
for piano and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestra
-
for accordéon and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Study scoreSeries: Music Of Our Time
Concerto
Instrumentation: accordion and SinfonieorchestraProduct number: ED 8582In stock€28.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for trompone and 10 wind instrumentsComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: trombone and 10 wind instrumentsProduct number: ED 7253In stock€32.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for guitar and sting orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: guitar and string orchestraProduct number: ED 7133In stock€46.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction, for 3 pianosSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: 2 pianos and orchestraProduct number: ED 7125In stock€44.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction, for 2 pianosSeries: Concerto
Instrumentation: harpsichord and instrumental-ensembleProduct number: ED 6246In stock€26.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
pour flûte, hautbois, clarinette, basson, cor, quintette à cordes et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, string quintet and orchestra
-
for violin and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin and orchestra
-
for violin and orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Concerto N° 1
Instrumentation: violin and orchestraProduct number: ED 6449In stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
pour violon et ensemble instrumentalComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin and chamber orchestra
-
for violin and instrumental ensembleComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partSeries: Concerto N° 2
Instrumentation: violin and chamber orchestraProduct number: ED 6871In stock€35.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
d'Emmanuel ChabrierComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 10 wind instruments
-
Version pour 11 instruments à vent et batterieComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 11 wind instruments and percussion
-
Phantastisches Oratorium in drei TeilenComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir and 2 orchestraLanguage: French, German
-
pour flûte et orchestre de chambreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute and chamber orchestra
-
pour basson et quintette ou orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Individual part, Double bassSeries: Concertino
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-15 Q24084In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
pour basson et quintette ou orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Individual part, VioloncelloSeries: Concertino
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-14 Q24083In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
pour basson et quintette ou orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Individual part, ViolaSeries: Concertino
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-13 Q24082In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
pour basson et quintette ou orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Individual part, Violin IISeries: Concertino
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-12 Q24081In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
pour basson et quintette ou orchestre à cordesComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Individual part, Violin ISeries: Concertino
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-11 Q24080In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
pour violon, alto, violoncelle avec instruments à vent, batterie, harpe et contrebasseComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin, viola, cello, wind instruments, percussion, harp and double bass
-
for string trio and pianoComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Piano reduction with solo partsSeries: Divertissement
Instrumentation: violin, viola, cello and orchestraProduct number: ED 6263In stock€36.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of parts, 5 violins I, 5 violins II, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 2 bassiSeries: Concertino
Divertissement
Instrumentation: bassoon and string quintet or string orchestraProduct number: CON 185-70In stock€57.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
pour flûte, clarinette et orchestreComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute, clarinet and orchestra
-
on the name of Johannes GutenbergComposer: Jean FrançaixMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 7139 Q2878In stock€9.99Incl. Tax