récit expressif
French composer
Definition
The expressive swell division of the French organ, equivalent to the Swell on English instruments. Contains the most expressive stops and is enclosed in the swell box.
Interpretive Guidance
The Récit in Franck is the singing voice of the instrument — the equivalent of the soprano or tenor soloist. Soloistic themes in the Cantabile, the Choral No. 1, and the Fantaisie in A are typically played on the Récit with a solo reed or Voix Humaine, with the swell box used to shape each phrase. Keep the melody on a single manual colour rather than changing registration mid-phrase.