Les Éolides

26), FWV 43, CFF 127,[1] is a symphonic poem by French composer César Franck written in 1876 and premiered the next year.

The initial inspiration for the piece came from a poem by Leconte de Lisle about the Aeolids, daughters of the keeper of the winds Aeolus.

[citation needed] The instrumentation was completed on 7 June,[2] but a performance was a difficult task, as at that time the Société Nationale de Musique rarely organised orchestral concerts.

[2] A revival of the piece in February 1882 under Charles Lamoureux's baton might have impelled Franck to compose his next symphonic poem, Le Chasseur maudit,[3] and the orchestral colours of Les Éolides made their way into his last instalment in that genre, Psyché (1888).

In the recapitulation the A major themes return, and a slower tempo section is heard again, this time in the home key (thus it can be said to be a proper sonata form).

This theme consists of three sections: the most important is the first one (ascending; bars 79–90), while the second (descending; 103–110) is just an answer for it and a transition to the third, that is built around the tonic (111–118).

The music reaches its summit, and now comes the motto theme again, triumphant, with elegant harp arpeggios supporting its breathings.