Frank Bridge   1879-1941 Catalogue of works

Life and career
Biography
Chronology

Works
 1  early years
 2  quest for recognition
 3  change of course
 4  maturity

Listening
Selective discography

Resources
Finding what you need...
Compact Discs
Printed music
Books & articles
Related websites

Return to Homepage


 
'Edwardian' years (1905-1912): Quest for recognition

Phantasie Quartet in f (H.55, 1905)
      Allegro moderato; Andante moderato; Allegro ma non troppo.
This work was written for W.W. Cobbett's first competition for composition of a work loosely in the form of the earlier English phantasy. Bridge's work here won second prize.
Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)
3 Idylls, for string quartet (H.67, 1906)
  Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)
The second of these served as the foundation of Benjamin Britten's Variations
3 Sketches, for piano (H.68, 1906)
 1. April 2. Rosemary. 3. Valse capricieuse
Recordings: [Rosemary arr. for orch. by R Cornford on Pearl 9600 (L Blake/Chelsea Opera Group/H Williams)]
String Quartet no.1 in e ('Bologna') (H.70, 1906)
 This work was composed for a competition sponsored by the Filharmonica Accademica, Bologna, Italy, and won Honorable Mention. Bridge composed the work quickly and sent his only manuscript to Italy. First performance had to wait until manuscript was returned some time later.
Recordings: Meridian 84369 (with Quartet no.4; Bridge Quartet)
Continuum 1035 (Brindisi SQ, out-of-print); Pearl SHE 563 [LP] (Hanson SQ)
Isabella, symphonic poem (H.78, 1907)
  First performed in London, 3 Oct 1907
Phantasie Trio in c, for piano, violin, cello (H.79, c 1907)
  Recordings: Nonesuch 71405 [LP] (Music Group of London)
Allegro appassionato, for viola, piano (H.82, 1908)
Dance Rhapsody, for orchestra (H.84, 1908)
 Recording: Lyrita SRCS114 [LP] (Braithwaite/London Philharmonic)
An Irish Melody "Londonderry Air", for string quartet (H.86, 1908)
 Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)
Chandos ABRD1036 [LP] (Delmé SQ)
Suite for string orchestra (H.93, 1909)
 Recordings: Chandos 6566 (Del Mar/Bournemouth Sinfonietta).
Nimbus 5068 (Boughton/English String Orch)
Print Editions: Excellent, inexpensive score (US$11) [Curwen C90700].
Arrangement for piano duet [Thames TH978327]
Digital study score of last movement available on this site.
MIDI file: concluding movement of the Suite. (Duration 4'06)
Phantasie Piano Quartet, f# (H.94, 1910)
 Recordings:
Incidental music for The Two Hunchbacks (H.95, 1910)
 First performed in London, 17 Nov 1910
Cradle Song, for violin (or 'cello) and piano (H.96, 1910)
Mélodie, for violin (or 'cello) and piano (H.99, 1911)
Organ Pieces, Book 2 (H.139, 1901,1912)
  Andante con moto (1901; Andantino (1912); Allegro ben moderato (1901).
Recordings: Pearl 545 [LP] (Stuart Campbell/Memorial Chapel, Univ Glasgow)
The Sea, orchestral suite (H.100, 1912)
  First performed in London, 24 Sep 1912
Viola Duos (H.101, 1912)
 Performed once in concert by the composer and Lionel Tertis
4 Short Pieces, for violin, piano (H.104, 1912)
 Meditation, Spring Song, Lullaby, Country Dance.
[nos. 1 and 2 also for cello and piano]
String Sextet (H.107, 1906-12)
  A masterpiece. Highly recommended.
The culmination of this period in the composer's creative life.
Recordings: Chandos 9472 (Chamber Ens of ASMF).


Sources: Schwann Opus (various editions); Hyperion record catalogue; Paul Hindmarsh Frank Bridge: A Thematic Catalogue; Anthony Payne Frank Bridge: Radical and Conservative; liner notes to recordings, new and old.

Copyright © 1997, 1998 D Ruiz <druid@netreach.net>