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)

String Quartet no.2, in g (H.115, 1915)

Recordings: Meridian 84311 (with Quartet no.3; Bridge Quartet)
Continuum 1036 (Brindisi SQ, out-of-print); Chandos ABRD1036 [LP] (Delmé SQ)

String Quartet no.3 (H.175, 1926)

Recordings: Meridian 84311 (Bridge Quartet)
Continuum 1035 (Brindisi SQ, out-of-print).

Print Editions: small study score [Stainer & Bell 2334]

score & parts, made to order [Stainer & Bell AC8]

Strongly recommended; possibly the finest of Bridge's four quartets.

String Quartet no.4 (H.188, 1937)

Recordings: Meridian 84369 (Bridge Quartet)
Continuum 1036 (Brindisi SQ, out-of-print)

Print Editions: small study score [Stainer & Bell 26037]

score & parts, made to order [Stainer & Bell AC9]

Phantasie Quartet in f (H.55, 1905)

Allegro moderato; Andante moderato; Allegro ma non troppo.

This work was composed for W.W. Cobbett's first competition for composition of a work loosely in the form of the earlier English phantasy. Bridge's entry won second prize.

Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)

Phantasie Piano Quartet, f# (H.94, 1910)

Recordings:

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

Novelletten, for string quartet (H.44, 1904)

Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)

An Irish Melody "Londonderry Air", for string quartet (H.86, 1908)

Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)

Chandos ABRD1036 [LP] (Delmé SQ)

2 Old English Songs, for string quartet (H.119, 1916)
Sally in Our Alley (H.119a, 1912)
Cherry Ripe (H.119b, 1916)

[also arranged as piano duet, by the composer]

Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)

Chandos ABRD1036 [LP] (Delmé SQ)

Print Editions: Thames TH978347 (arranged as piano duet)

Scherzo Phantastick, for string quartet (H.6, 1901)

3 Pieces for string quartet (H.43, 1904)

Allegretto. Moderatio. Allegro marcato.

Recordings: Naxos 8.553718 (Maggini SQ)

String Quartet in B flat (H.3, 1901)

A string quartet outside the magnificent set of four, composed while still a student at the RCM. It has been neither recorded nor published, though it won Bridge the Arthur Sullivan Prize for composition. If you know any more about it, definitely please write the sitekeeper.

Quintet in d, for piano and string quartet (H.49, 1904-12)

Recordings: Nonesuch 71405 [LP] (Music Group of London)

String Quintet in e (H.7, c 1901)

String Sextet (H.107, 1906-12)

Recordings: Chandos 9472 (Chamber Ens of ASMF).

A masterpiece, in a Brahmsian vein yet distinctly Bridge. Highly recommended. The culmination of the first period of the composer's creative life.