readers WRITE Just Play The Notes? In his master class on the Franck Sonata in A major ("Hold On Loosely," May 2006), James Reel quotes violinist Vincent Skowronski as saying, "Just play what the man wrote . . ." But this is not always as simple as it sounds! Henle Urtext, besides offering various non-traditional articulations (slurs and lack therof), presents a new reading 24 measures before the end of the second movement (at the quasi presto). Henle has represented both this measure, as well as the next one, A-B-C#-D instead of one measure with C natural--naturals followed by one with C#s. This reading will surprise listeners and players who encounter it for the first time, but it quickly becomes totally convincing: two measures of harmonic stasis before the "horses smell the stables" and dash to the end.

Leave the Franck Sonata Alone: Vincent P. Skowronski An editorial note explains how Franck's original intention failed to make its way into the first edition and the mistaken reading became the accepted one. To me, this single correction changes the musical structure and effect of the end of the movement to such an extent that it justifies the existence of this entire urtext edition. --Jeffery Solow, Elkins Park, PA