Concours Jean Françaix

The first three edition of the International Jean Françaix’s Competition knew a flattering success for a demonstration which is there only for its debuts. It is true that Jean Françaix's name is internationally known and that its works are played by a multitude of musicians: his first one wind quintet or its " Clock of Flora " for oboe and orchestra is considered as classics in their genre and its string trio was executed several thousand times worldwide

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It is true that the name of Jean Françaix is ​​known internationally and that his works are played by a multitude of musicians: his first wind quintet or "Horloge de Flore" for oboe and orchestra are considered classics in their genre and String trio has been performed several thousand times around the world.
In the meantime,
Given the technical difficulties of his music, to interpret it correctly is a real reference. Judging by the comment of a critic, dated 1976, concerning the clarinet concerto:
"A work for the future perhaps when the instrument is modernized or when the human hand has changed ... but the work is already a challenge that is worth it."

The Alto (1998) and Flute (2000) competitions were also excellent. As for the piano, although the qualities displayed by all the candidates in the classical repertory were quite convincing, it appeared that many had underestimated the difficulties presented by the works of Jean Françaix who were on the program. It would be unfair to hold them to account, since this repertory is practically not recorded or played, few masters can transmit the rules and especially the spirit. A spirit in which humor, which reveals a certain natural gaiety, conceals deeper feelings that it never expressed, except in its music, for who knows how to listen.
This extreme modesty is clearly reflected in this commentary, which he made precisely of one of the pieces of competition which were commissioned him:
In the meantime,
Jean Françaix himself had to suffer from the pangs of the competitions and, having just missed his first piano prize at the Paris Conservatoire, before obtaining it, the first named the following year, received this letter from his teacher Isidore Philips:
"You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. " "You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. "
"You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. " "You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. " "You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. "
"You have, I am told, very close to the first prize, but you should thank those who did not vote for you instead of cursing them, it gives you a year of work. Always, the price is nothing. What is something is to know thoroughly his art. "

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Text by M. Jacques Françaix

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