Frank Bridge

English composer, conductor and viola player Frank Bridge was born in Brighton on 26 February 1879 into a musical family.  His teachers at the Royal College of Music in London included Charles Villiers Stanford, and he taught Benjamin Britten, privately.

Along with Marjorie Hayward, Bridge played in the English String Quartet and also conducted, but he's mostly known as a composer, especially of Three Idylls for String Quartet, the rhapsody Enter Spring, the orchestral work There Is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook, the Christmas dance Sir Roger de Coverley and 2 Old English Songs - one of which is Cherry Ripe.

Frank Bridge died on 10 January 1941, aged sixty-one.

 

A selection of articles about Frank Bridge

Ensemble. Propulsive Energy and Contemplative Interludes - Mike Wheeler listens to the Coull Quartet

Ensemble. Bold Choices - Mike Wheeler congratulates Nicky Spence and Joseph Middleton on their Buxton Festival programme

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - A hundred not out

CD Spotlight. Birdsong Fragments - 'Songs of Travel and Home' performed by Jullien van Mellaerts, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... a singer with a very expressive voice, a pleasing tone, a great insight into the music he sings ...'

Ensemble. Packed With Good Things - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

Ensemble. A Neat Idea - A song recital by James Gaughan and David Hammond, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Hugely Promising - Frank Zielhorst steps in as Principal Conductor of Sinfonia Viva, impressing Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Highly Interesting - British music for cello and piano, enthralls Gerald Fenech. 'An important addition to the genre's discography in excellent performances, sound and annotations ...'

Ensemble. Engaging Accounts - A Celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of Derby Cathedral Girls' Choir, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. The Treasured Crown - Roderic Dunnett reports in depth on last month's Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester

CD Spotlight. Home and Abroad - Piano music by Delius, Bax, Vaughan Williams and Bridge, heard by Howard Smith. 'Commanding resolute performances of music arisen from harrowing conflict.'

Ensemble. Beautifully Presented - The Heron Piano Quartet, recommended by Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Enterprisingly Apt - A wide-ranging recital by Janey Miller and Susie Summers, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Exploring the Darker Side - Dan Miller and Richard Hodges at Derby's Festival of Britten, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Generous Weekend - The third William Alwyn Festival, attended by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Sturm und Drang - The Gould Piano Trio, heard by Michael Tremberth

CD Spotlight. Varied Repertoire - Christine Brewer and Roger Vignoles, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a gamut of emotions which are superbly handled ...'

Ensemble. The Finest of Them All - The 2012 Hereford Three Choirs Festival, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

CD Spotlight. Avowedly Definitive - John McCabe plays his own 'Tenebrae', heard by Howard Smith. '... imbued with anger and monumental in both structure and outlook ...'

CD Spotlight. Joining Forces - British Art Songs, heard by George Balcombe. '... a strong affinity ...'

CD Spotlight. Gentle Passions - Music by John Jeffreys, heard by Patric Standford. '... beautifully paced ...'

Ensemble. Seventh Heaven - Christine Brewer and Craig Rutenberg's recital in Los Angeles, reviewed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. An Ideal Exponent - Eniko Magyar plays English viola music, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... beautifully executed and superbly recorded ...'

Record Box. Haunted Loneliness - Orchestral music by Benjamin Britten, heard by Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. Pride of Place - Piano music by Frank Bridge, praised by Howard Smith. 'A standing ovation for Mark Bebbington ...'

Committed and Tough - Malcolm Troup plays Bloch's Piano Sonata, appreciated by Julian Jacobson

A Radiant Performance - Ashley Wass in Derby, assessed by Mike Wheeler

Bold and Forthright - Marcus Huxley played at Derby Cathedral, and Mike Wheeler was there

Ensemble. Sparkling Performances - Yvonne Kenny and Iain Burnside at London's Wigmore Hall, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Record box. Accomplished playing - Kumiko Ida's British piano album, appreciated by Patric Standford

Ensemble. An exuberant performance - Mike Wheeler reviews the last of Derby Cathedral's summer organ recitals, given by Tom Corfield

CD Spotlight. Richly romantic - Orchestral music by Frank Bridge, praised by Patric Standford. '... a fine recording of music that has an outstanding place in English musical heritage.'

CD Spotlight. Exquisite quality - Music played by the Kandinsky Trio, recommended by Patric Standford. '... one of the most attractive chamber music recordings ...'

CD Spotlight - Sea-change. 'Penelope Lynex is a cellist of formidable gifts.' The complete music for cello and piano of Frank Bridge, whetting the appetite of Robert Anderson