JEAN FRANÇAIX (1912-1997): Centenary Box - Disc 1: Françaix plays Françaix: Variations sur un thème plaisant for Piano and Winds (Mainz Wind Ensemble), 5 portraits de jeunes filles for Piano, Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra (Southwest German Radio Orchestra Baden-Baden; Pierre Stoll), Concerto for Harpsichord and Ensemble (Saabrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra; Emile Naoumoff). Jean Françaix (piano, harpsichord), Claude Françaix (second piano), Disc 2: Le gay Paris for Trumpet and Winds (Carole Dawn Reinhart [trumpet], 9 pièces caractéristiques for 10 Wind Instruments and Piano (Agathe Wanek [piano]), L'heure du berger for 8 Wind Instruments (arr. Friedrich K. Wanek [1929-1991]), 7 dances from the Ballet Les malheurs de Sophie for 10 Wind Instruments, Concerto for Guitar and String Orchestra (Emanuele Segre [guitar], Southwest German Chamber Orchestra; Hans Richter), Danses exotiques for 11 Wind Instruments and Percussion (John Dvorachek [percussion]). Mainz Wind Ensemble. Disc 3: 11 Variations sur in thème de Haydn for 9 Wind Instruments and Double Bass, Quasi improvisando for Wind Ensemble, "Mozart new-look" for Double Bass and Wind Instruments, Homage à l'ami Papageno for Piano and 10 Wind Instruments (Ichiro Noda [double bass], Jean Françaix [piano], Mainz Wind Ensemble), Elégie pour commémorer le bicentenaire de la mort de Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for Wind Ensemble, Petite valse européenne for Tuba and Double Wind Quintet, Quasi improvvisando for Wind Ensemble (Amadé Wind Ensemble), Transcriptions by Françaix for 10 Wind Instruments: Chopin: 3 Ecossaises et Variations sur in Air poplulaire allemand, Schubert: 3 Marches Militaires, Chabrier: 3 pièces pittoresques (Amadé Wind Ensemble).
Catalogue Number: 01O059
Label: Wergo
Reference: WER 6956 2
Format: CD
Price: $38.98
Description: This centenary celebration has been culled by Wergo from German radio archives (almost entirely), all of which are out of print now (five of the wind pieces were never released on CD, having come out only on a 1977 LP). In fact, nothing here appears to be otherwise available on disc (a few items are wind arrangements of other works). So, if you're a lover of Françaix's life-affirming music this rare, mid-price Wergo box-set is a true bargain (from a hyperexpensive company!). 3 CDs. Mid-price. Original 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1997 Wergo and Alcar CDs.
