Customer Reviews

Frank Bridge: Works for String Quartet

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Our English cousin, Frank Bridge [1879-1941], like his contemporary EJ Moeran, is a ridiculously neglected composer. Again, like Moeran, Bridge seems to have garnered most attention through his orchestral works, such as his beautiful suite, "The Sea." Lucky we are, then, to have this Naxos recording of a goodly selection of early Bridge quartet works, superbly produced and engineered, with the Maggini foursome at the helm. These are not the acerbic and sparse compositions of Bridge's later years, but rather his chamber music at its most inviting.

That said, the opening Phantasie Quartet in F Minor (1905) strikes one immediately as innovative and attractive, its first movement quite endearing and possessing a delicious lyrical main theme. The second movement Andante has a sweet lilting quality to it bringing to mind the English countryside. The final Allegro is, well, if anything, a jaunty ride through the hills and dales.

The three Novelletten (1904) again display Bridge's proclivity towards melody and lyricism: the first, a gentle, soothing Andante; the second, a mild-mannered Presto accented by plucked strings; the third, a memorable,full-blooded Allegro.

The Three Idylls are of exceptional grace and beauty, especially the first, and the longest of the three, marked Adagio molto espressivo.

The four pieces Bridge "translates," not transcribes, from traditional English tunes (incl. "An Irish Melody," "Sir Roger," "Sally in Our Alley" and "Cherry Ripe") he accomplishes within his own idiom, and there are not just a few nods at Ravel and the French School, either, hidden amongst the English lyricism.

Capping the CD are three heretofore unrecorded works by Bridge of rather short duration, but all quite delightful, anyway.

[Running time: 59:55]

I've had this Frank Bridge chamber music anthology in my library for most of the fifteen years that it's been around. Indeed, it's one of the most-played discs in my British music collection. These early works by Bridge are joyful, meditative, atmospheric and richly reflective of the English folk tradition - all of which make them an immense pleasure to listen to. There's no shortage of substance and creative ideas here, all played with imagination and enthusiasm by the Maggini Quartet.

Bridge was greatly affected by the First World War and also attracted to the music of the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Webern and Berg), influences that began showing up in his music by the mid-1920's. While his early first and second string quartets are melodic and pastoral, his third (1925-6) and fourth quartets (1937) sound as though they came from a different pen. Although there is much to appreciate in the composer's work as it evolved, those who are new to Bridge might want to begin with his earlier work. For this reason, if I were to recommend just one collection of music by Bridge, this Naxos disc would be it.

I'm trawling for string quartet music which sounds so great you want to play it, but easy enough to have a bash at if you're not very good. The very last track on the disc, piece 2 of "3 pieces" (no prize for the unimaginative name!) sounds like just such a piece for me. It is only a couple of minutes long, and I think would bear a complete repeat from beginning to end. From an English composer it's a vibrant English seasidy quartet with a syncopated beat, conjuring 1950's England, Darling buds of May, Just William, and my old feller's 1950's holidays in Llandudno as a teenager listening to the pier orchestra (aka the Liverpool Phil in disguise). The other pieces on the CD, including Londonderry Air, are rather more challenging than my simple tastes expected, and I shall reserve judgement until I have heard them a bit more. My rating of three stars may be unduly mean but I was not allowed to submit a review without picking a figure so I've just gone in the middle.