JEAN FRANÇAIX (1912-1997): Chamber Music Centenary Edition - String Quartet, Sonatine for Violin and Piano, Thème et variations for Clarinet and Piano, Divertissement for Piano and String Trio, Dixtuor for String Quintet and Wind Quintet, 8 bagatelles for Piano and String Quartet, Nonetto d'après le quintette K 452 de Mozart for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon and String Quintet (1998 Erol release, offered here in May [05-062]), Octet for Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon and String Quintet, Divertissement for Bassoon and String Quintet, Clarinet Quintet, L'heure du berger for Piano and String Quintet (World Premiere Recording) (New recordings 2012).

Description: Known mostly for his compositions for winds, Françaix also wrote for other chamber combinations and this set offers much gratefully written music for strings which will broaden the collector's knowledge of the composer. The works tend to fall into the composer's earliest years (the tautly constructed quartet of 1933, the slightly earlier Sonatine and the 1935 Divertissement, here heard in a later transcription in which the piano replaces the original orchestra) and his high maturity (the Dixtuor of 1986 and the 1980 Bagatelles). All come with Françaix's inimitable grace, charm and high spirits mixed with gentle irony. The third disc adds more of the same, two works from the 40s and two from the 70s with the little piano sextet L'heure (just under ten minutes with the delightful titles Vieux Beaux, Pin-up Girls and Les petits nerveux) getting its first recording. 3 CDs. Octuor de France, Jean Françaix (piano).