Frank Bridge

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Biography

Born: February 26, 1879; Brighton, England   Died: January 10, 1941; Eastbourne, London, England  
Frank Bridge studied violin and composition at the Royal College of Music, graduating in 1904. A scholarship enabled him to study with Charles Villiers Stanford for four years (1899-1903). Bridge quickly established a reputation as a gifted violist and conductor. In 1906, he played with the Joachim Quartet, and he was a member of the English String Quartet through 1915. He conducted some operas at the Savoy Theatre and Covent Garden, and when Sir Read more Thomas Beecham organized his New Symphony Orchestra in 1906, he named Bridge as his assistant. Bridge also befriended Sir Henry Wood and occasionally substituted for him as conductor at Queen's Hall; Wood later became an important champion of Bridge's music. During this period, Bridge was writing mostly chamber music and songs. His few orchestral works of the time were much influenced by the French Impressionists; the first of them to become part of the standard repertoire was the suite The Sea (1911).

World War I was a traumatic time for Bridge, an ardent pacifist. One can hear more dissonance and darkness creeping into such works as the Cello Sonata in D minor (1913-1917) and the Quartet No. 2 in G minor (1915). After several years of near-silence, Bridge's next big work signaled a large shift in style. The Piano Sonata (1921-1924) was written in memory of composer Ernest Farrar, who was killed in action in France, in 1917. In it, one hears considerably more dissonance, abrupt changes of mood and tempo, and a more angular and aggressive sound. This stylistic evolution continued in works like the third (1926) and fourth (1937) string quartets, which flirt with Schoenberg-like atonality.

In his last two decades, Bridge composed, occasionally conducted, and did some traveling, including trips to the United States in 1923, 1934, and 1938. He also did some private teaching. Certainly his best-known pupil was Benjamin Britten, who was an 11-year-old prodigy when Bridge met him in 1924. Britten retained a great affection for his teacher, and paid tribute to him in the Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge (1937), based on the second of the latter's Three Idylls for String Quartet (1906). Britten was also partly responsible for the subsequent interest in Bridge's music.

Among Bridge's later compositions were a lovely opera, The Christmas Rose (begun 1919, set aside for years and completed only in 1930), as well as several important chamber and orchestral works. His last completed composition was the Rebus Overture (1940); he also left a symphony for strings unfinished at his death. Read less

Featured Frank Bridge CDs & DVDs:

Britten, Bridge, I Holst: String Quartets / Brindisi Quartet
Britten, Bridge, I Holst: String Quartets / Brindisi Quartet
Release Date: 05/18/2007   Label: Conifer  
Catalog: 15006   Number of Discs: 1
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Ireland, Bridge: Suites, Etc / Garforth, English Co
Ireland, Bridge: Suites, Etc / Garforth, English Co
Release Date: 09/30/1992   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 8390   Number of Discs: 1
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Walton: String Quartet In A; Bridge: String Quartet No 3
Walton: String Quartet In A; Bridge: String Quartet No 3
Release Date: 12/20/1993   Label: Virgin Classics  
Catalog: 59026   Number of Discs: 1
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British Composers - Bridge: The Sea, Etc / Groves, Et Al
British Composers - Bridge: The Sea, Etc / Groves, Et Al
Release Date: 09/10/2002   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 66855   Number of Discs: 1
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Britten Resonances - Bridge, Ireland, Britten / Goldstone
Britten Resonances - Bridge, Ireland, Britten / Goldstone
Release Date: 08/22/2006   Label: Divine Art  
Catalog: 24118   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 1-25 of 207 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    In The Shadow Of War / Steven Isserlis
    In The Shadow Of War / Steven Isserlis
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 1992 Release Date: 02/26/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ernest Bloch,  Frank Bridge,  Stephen Hough
    Performer:  Steven Isserlis
    Conductor:  Hugh Wolff,  Gábor Takács-Nagy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin,  Tapiola Sinfonietta
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  • 2.
    The English Cathedral Series, Vol. 17: St. Edmundsbury Cathedral
    The English Cathedral Series, Vol. 17: St. Edmundsbury Cathedral
    Label: Regent   Catalog: 383 Release Date: 01/08/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Charles Villiers Stanford,  Frank Bridge,  Harold Drake,  Herbert Howells  ... 
    Performer:  David Humphreys,  James Thomas
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  • 3.
    In The Shadow Of War
    Label: Bis   Catalog: BIS-1992 Release Date: 01/01/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ernest Bloch,  Frank Bridge,  Stephen Hough
    Performer:  Steven Isserlis
    Conductor:  Hugh Wolff,  Gábor Takács-Nagy
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  • 4.
    Essence Of Christmas
    Essence Of Christmas
    Label: Genuin Musikproduction   Catalog: 12253 Release Date: 11/13/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frank Bridge,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Claude Debussy,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Quintessenz (Flute Ensemble)
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  • 5.
    Tell Me The Truth About Love
    Tell Me The Truth About Love
    Label: Champs Hill Records   Catalog: 40 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Benjamin Britten,  Robert Schumann,  Lili Boulanger,  Hugo Wolf  ... 
    Performer:  Joseph Middleton,  Amanda Roocroft
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  • 6.
    The Voice Of Peter Pears
    The Voice Of Peter Pears
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 1393 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Thomas Ford,  John Dowland,  Thomas Morley,  Philip Rosseter  ... 
    Performer:  Julian Bream,  Peter Pears,  Benjamin Britten
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  • 7.
    Bridge: Orchestral Works - The Collector's Edition
    Bridge: Orchestral Works - The Collector's Edition
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10729 Release Date: 07/31/2012   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Frank Bridge
    Performer:  Howard Shelley,  Alban Gerhardt,  Roderick Williams,  Philip Langridge  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Hickox
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  • 8.
    English Song
    Label: Heritage Records   Catalog: 224 Release Date: 07/17/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Thomas Ford,  Philip Rosseter,  John Dowland,  Thomas Morley  ... 
    Performer:  Julian Bream,  Peter Pears,  Benjamin Britten
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  • 9.
    John Mcabe Farewell Recital
    John Mcabe Farewell Recital
    Label: Toccata Classics   Catalog: 139 Release Date: 07/10/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Schubert,  Emily Howard,  John Casken,  Maurice Ravel  ... 
    Performer:  John McCabe
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  • 10.
    English Song
    English Song
    Label: Heritage   Catalog: 224 Release Date: 05/15/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Thomas Ford,  Philip Rosseter,  John Dowland,  Thomas Morley  ... 
    Performer:  Peter Pears,  Julian Bream,  Benjamin Britten
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  • 11.
    Kathleen Ferrier - The Complete Decca Recordings [14 CDs + DVD]
    Kathleen Ferrier - The Complete Decca Recordings [14 CDs + DVD]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001654200 Release Date: 03/20/2012   Number of Discs: 15
    Composer:  Christoph W. Gluck,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Franz Schubert,  Franz Xaver Gruber  ... 
    Performer:  Zoe Vlachopoulos,  Ann Ayars,  Kathleen Ferrier,  Thornton Lofthouse  ... 
    Conductor:  Fritz Stiedry,  Reginald Jacques,  Boyd Neel,  Sir John Barbirolli  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus,  Southern Philharmonic Orchestra,  Bach Choir  ... 
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  • 12.
    Mstislav Rostropovich - The Complete Decca Recordings [5-CDs]
    Mstislav Rostropovich - The Complete Decca Recordings [5-CDs]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001649502 Release Date: 03/13/2012   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Franz Schubert,  Frank Bridge,  Claude Debussy,  Robert Schumann  ... 
    Performer:  Mstislav Rostropovich,  Benjamin Britten,  Sviatoslav Richter
    Conductor:  Benjamin Britten
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra
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  • 13.
    Bosmans, Bridge: Music For Cello And Piano / Mayke Rademaker, Matthijs Verschoor
    Bosmans, Bridge: Music For Cello And Piano / Mayke Rademaker, Matthijs Verschoor
    Label: Quintone   Catalog: 7002 Release Date: 02/28/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frank Bridge,  Henriëtte Bosmans
    Performer:  Mayke Rademaker,  Matthijs Verschoor
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  • 14.
    Songs Of War / Simon Keenlyside, Malcolm Martineau
    Songs Of War / Simon Keenlyside, Malcolm Martineau
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 94424 Release Date: 12/06/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Ireland,  Arthur Somervell,  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  George Butterworth  ... 
    Performer:  Simon Keenlyside,  Malcolm Martineau
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  • 15.
    Great Cathedral Organs [13-CD Set]
    Great Cathedral Organs [13-CD Set]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 0852952 Release Date: 11/15/2011   Number of Discs: 13
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Louis-Claude Daquin,  Henry Purcell,  Sigfrid Karg-Elert  ... 
    Performer:  Noel Rawsthorne,  Francis Jackson,  Douglas Guest,  Simon Preston  ... 
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  • 16.
    Bridge: Piano Music Vol 3 / Mark Bebbington
    Bridge: Piano Music Vol 3 / Mark Bebbington
    Label: Somm   Catalog: 107 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frank Bridge
    Performer:  Mark Bebbington
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  • 17.
    English Classics
    English Classics
    Label: Hallé   Catalog: 7532 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  George Butterworth,  Frederick Delius,  Percy Grainger,  Traditional  ... 
    Performer:  James Gilchrist,  Joseph Taylor,  Lyn Fletcher
    Conductor:  Mark Elder,  John Wilson
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  • 18.
    Hamlet Echoes / Doufexis, Sachse, Heide
    Hamlet Echoes / Doufexis, Sachse, Heide
    Label: Cavi Music   Catalog: 8553234 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Charles Martin Loeffler,  Franz Liszt,  Johannes Brahms,  Christian Jost  ... 
    Performer:  Stella Doufexis,  Pauline Sachse,  Daniel Heide
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  • 19.
    Quiet Strength
    Quiet Strength
    Label: Cross Island   Catalog: 179726 Release Date: 11/01/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Cécile Louise Chaminade,  Jeffrey Harrington,  Andreas Van Haren,  Meira Warshauer  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cross Island
    CD: $17.99
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  • 20.
    From The Old World To The New / Karina Lucas, Rebecca Jones, Simon Lane
    From The Old World To The New / Karina Lucas, Rebecca Jones, Simon Lane
    Label: Sonimage   Catalog: SON11101 Release Date: 10/04/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Charles Martin Loeffler,  Frank Bridge,  Aaron Copland
    Performer:  Karina Lucas,  Rebecca Jones,  Simon Lane
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  • 21.
    My Own Country / Felicity Lott, Graham Johnson
    My Own Country / Felicity Lott, Graham Johnson
    Label: Champs Hill Records   Catalog: 24 Release Date: 09/27/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Charles Hubert Parry,  John Ireland,  Sir Edward Elgar,  Roger Quilter  ... 
    Performer:  Felicity Lott,  Graham Johnson
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  • 22.
    Nettle & Markham In England
    Nettle & Markham In England
    Label: Netmark   Catalog: 200 Release Date: 09/13/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Addinsell,  Percy Grainger,  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Jeremy Nicholas  ... 
    Performer:  Richard Markham,  David Nettle
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  • 23.
    Songs / Kevin Kyle
    Songs / Kevin Kyle
    Label: Jcl Records   Catalog: 515 Release Date: 09/13/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Roger Quilter,  Robert Schumann,  Giuseppe Sarti  ... 
    Performer:  Kevin Kyle,  Daniel Grimwood
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  • 24.
    The London String Quartet: 1917-1951 Recordings
    The London String Quartet: 1917-1951 Recordings
    Label: Music & Arts   Catalog: 1253 Release Date: 09/13/2011   Number of Discs: 8
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johannes Brahms,  Claude Debussy,  Franz Joseph Haydn  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London String Quartet
    CD: $88.99
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  • 25.
    English Spring / Mark Elder, Halle Orchestra
    English Spring / Mark Elder, Halle Orchestra
    Label: Hallé   Catalog: 7528 Release Date: 08/09/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Arnold Bax,  Frederick Delius,  Frank Bridge
    Conductor:  Mark Elder
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hallé Orchestra
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