Claves Records Releases “Fernande Decruck: Concertante Works Volume 2”

The collection of world premiere recordings features Michigan’s Jackson Symphony Orchestra and conductor Matthew Aubin 

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Switzerland’s Claves Records has released the world premiere recordings of four works by the French composer Fernande Decruck (1896-1954) in “Concertante Works Volume 2.”

This album is part of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s “Equal Billing Project,” which aims to record and support the music of a deceased composer who wasn’t equally recognized during their lifetime. The project also supports costs associated with recording, research, music publication, and travel.

The recording features the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and soloists Jeremy Crosmer on cello, Mitsuru Kubo on viola, and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. 

The ensemble is conducted by music director Dr. Matthew Aubin, who has worked to bring Decruck’s music back to orchestral performances for the last decade. 

On the album are Decruck’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1932); Sonata in C# for Alto Saxophone (or Viola) and Orchestra (1943); The Bells of Vienna: Suite of Waltzes (1935); and The Trianons: Suite for Harpsichord (or Piano) and Orchestra (1946). 

This release follows Aubin and the Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s recording of “Decruck’s Concertante Works Volume 1” in 2022 on Claves, which includes her Sonata in C-sharp for Alto Saxophone (or Viola) and Orchestra (1943) with saxophonist Carrie Koffman; Heroic Poem for Solo Trumpet in C, Solo Horn in F and Orchestra (1946) with soloists Amy McCabe, trumpet and Leelanee Sterrett, horn; and Concerto for Harp and Orchestra (1944) with soloist Chen-Yu Huang.

To purchase and listen to the album, click here. 

A student of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris, Fernande Decruck won several prizes during her time there and later taught many students there, including Oliver Messiaen. She was also mentored in improvisation by Marcel Dupré. 

While living in New York, where her husband played double bass and saxophone for the New York Philharmonic under Arturo Toscanini, Decruck produced many works for piano, organ, orchestra, cello, and for wind instruments, especially the saxophone. 

In 1937, she moved to Toulouse alone with her three children, working as a professor at the Toulouse Conservatory. From 1942, she focused her efforts solely on composition — notably writing several of the works on these recordings.

Following a difficult divorce in 1950, financial difficulties, and a series of health problems, Fernande passed away in 1954 at the age of 57. At that time, many of her works remained unpublished and were thought to be lost.

As the foremost scholar on Decruck’s music, Aubin has edited and created critical editions of her music, recently published by Éditions Billaudot. Additionally, he has won multiple research grants to study her life and works, and has worked closely with her family. Led by Aubin, performances of Decruck’s music have been presented in the U.S. and in Europe. 

 “The works on this album are a diverse representation of Decruck's many compositional voices,” Aubin wrote. “The cello concerto is forward thinking, cinematic and from a time where the cello concerto repertoire is sparse. Les Trianons blends Neo-Baroque elements with 20th century orchestral color. Decruck's saxophone sonata works incredibly well in her setting for viola — so much so that many JSO musicians prefer this version … especially the string players! The charming waltzes that complete the album are light, but bear the melancholy spirit that infuses much of Decruck's work. They're sure to find a place on many future orchestral programs.”