Fantaisie in C, Op. 16 (Six Pièces, No. 1)

César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck (10 December 1822 – 8 November 1890) worked in Paris during his adult life.

He was born at Liège, in what is now Belgium (though at the time of his birth it was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands). He gave his first concerts there in 1834 and studied privately in Paris from 1835, where his teachers included Anton Reicha. He moved to Paris, where he married and embarked on a career as teacher and organist. He gained a reputation as a formidable musical improviser, and demonstrated new instruments built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll.

In 1858, he became organist at the Basilica of St. Clotilde, Paris, a position he retained for the rest of his life. He became professor at the Paris Conservatoire in 1872; he took French nationality, a requirement of the appointment.

The work is dedicated to Charles-Alexis Chauvet (7 June 1837 – 29 January 1871). He was born in Marines, Charles-Alexis Chauvet made his debut at the organ of St. Remi church in Marines, only 11 years old. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris at the age of 13 to study organ with François Benoist (1st Prize of organ in 1860) and music composition with Ambroise Thomas, of which he became assistant in composition class. In 1860, he was appointed to the choir organ of the Église Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin (Paris), then to the great organ the following year. He then appeared in the gallery of the Church of Saint-Bernard de la Chapelle where he inaugurated the organ in 1863, at Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Nouvelle, then at Saint-Merri in 1866. Finally, he was appointed titular organist of the new Cavaillé-Coll organ of the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in 1869, a position he held until his premature death at the age of 34 years of tuberculosis.

I've intended on doing this for a long time. So, I thought this might be a good time to do it. :-)

I've attached the score, a dissertation about the music, as well as photos of Franck, Chauvet and their churches below.