Frank Bridge

[Roasted Swan]

Moonfish - yes indeed the Maggini's are solidly good - and check out their version of the Piano Quintet as well coupled with the powerful Bax Quintet.  That is an excellent disc.  Bridge's Chamber music is probably his most impressive and individual music.  I like the orchestral music a lot - Enter Spring is a masterpiece - but the chamber music is more questing.

PS:  Oration is a work of certified genius - this is the best version I know - better than the Hickox version(s) or Lloyd-Webber on Lyrita [asin]B01EGVDQPY[/asin] - and don't let the nay-sayers about Nimbus distract you.  This entire disc is very very fine

[Moonfish]

PS:  Oration is a work of certified genius - this is the best version I know - better than the Hickox version(s) or Lloyd-Webber on Lyrita [ - and don't let the nay-sayers about Nimbus distract you.  This entire disc is very very fine

This one?

[asin] B000EXZGR0[/asin]

[Moonfish]

Moonfish - yes indeed the Maggini's are solidly good - and check out their version of the Piano Quintet as well coupled with the powerful Bax Quintet.  That is an excellent disc.  Bridge's Chamber music is probably his most impressive and individual music.  I like the orchestral music a lot - Enter Spring is a masterpiece - but the chamber music is more questing.

PS:  Oration is a work of certified genius - this is the best version I know - better than the Hickox version(s) or Lloyd-Webber on Lyrita [asin]B01EGVDQPY[/asin] - and don't let the nay-sayers about Nimbus distract you.  This entire disc is very very fine

Thanks for the suggestions, Roasted Swan!  It is definitely new territory for me. I will see if I can find a copy and/or listen to the Nimbus recording. 

[Moonfish]

I found a Bridge recording in my Groves box and have spent the last hour listening to a few of the tone poems and they are indeed very fine. Soothing, poetic and at times full of drama. It is easy to let one's mind wander into the realm of the music. Especially The Sea and Enter Spring, but I also enjoyed Summer and Lament very much.  I think I need to listen to it one more time!!!

Frank Bridge:
The Sea
Summer
Cherry Ripe
Enter Spring
Lament

Groves/Royal Liverpool PO

[Moonfish]

One thing I love about GMG is the somewhat eclectic taste of its members that allows us to come across and experience composers and works that exist in the perimeter of the "canon".  There is always another musical work to experience as long as one keeps exploring.  I'm excited that so many members have put forward suggestions and thoughts in regards to Frank Bridge's works.  I look forward to hearing more. His chamber work Three Idylls as well as the several tone poems for orchestra (on the Groves recording) certainly were a pleasant surprise today. 

[kyjo]

Great to hear you're enjoying Bridge, Moonfish! Some of my favorite works of this underrated composer include the lyrical and passionate Cello Sonata, the String Quartet no. 2, the haunting and tragic Piano Sonata, and his two late, dark concertante masterworks Oration (for cello) and Phantasm (for piano).

[Madiel]

Is the Maggini Quartet a good gateway for exploring Bridge's main chamber works?

[asin] B0000BX5K4[/asin][asin] B0007ORDV8[/asin][asin] B0000014AD[/asin]

Yes, if my own experience is any guide. And I think I bought these because all the reviews I could find were positive.

I also picked up this one for the piano trios:

[asin]B001NZA0CO[/asin]

[SonicMan46]

TTT after 3+ years! And for me, my last posts were over 10 years ago, and I seem to own the same 5 discs shown below (top row) - after reviewing this entire thread, I'm considering adding the 4 CDs on the bottom row; definitely the first two to complete the string quartets and the highly recommended Oration/Phantasm - NOW, as to piano, not sure?  There seems to be plenty of recordings available; the Naxos bargain ones below have received some excellent reviews, but is Bridge's solo keyboard output worth pursuing - could go on Spotify and give a listen, I guess but any comments would be much appreciated.  Thanks.  Dave



     

[Roasted Swan]

TTT after 3+ years! And for me, my last posts were over 10 years ago, and I seem to own the same 5 discs shown below (top row) - after reviewing this entire thread, I'm considering adding the 4 CDs on the bottom row; definitely the first two to complete the string quartets and the highly recommended Oration/Phantasm - NOW, as to piano, not sure?  There seems to be plenty of recordings available; the Naxos bargain ones below have received some excellent reviews, but is Bridge's solo keyboard output worth pursuing - could go on Spotify and give a listen, I guess but any comments would be much appreciated.  Thanks.  Dave



     

You won't go wrong with any of those discs from your 2nd row.  I have both of the Wass discs - they are very good.  His Bax discs were excellent but he seems to have rather fallen off the Naxos artist roster which is a shame.  Bebbington is reliably fine in Bridge too.  The Maggini & Lyrita discs are no brainers - Phantasm and Oration on the latter disc are two of the great British concertante works of the early 20th century

[SonicMan46]

You won't go wrong with any of those discs from your 2nd row.  I have both of the Wass discs - they are very good.  His Bax discs were excellent but he seems to have rather fallen off the Naxos artist roster which is a shame.  Bebbington is reliably fine in Bridge too.  The Maggini & Lyrita discs are no brainers - Phantasm and Oration on the latter disc are two of the great British concertante works of the early 20th century

Thanks RS for your comments - I was sold on those first two, but wondered about which pianists 'rose to the top' - I've been impressed w/ the reviews on Bebbington's recordings of various British composers on the Somm label but not available at great prices vs. Naxos, so will likely go w/ the Wass offerings.  Dave

[vandermolen]

TTT after 3+ years! And for me, my last posts were over 10 years ago, and I seem to own the same 5 discs shown below (top row) - after reviewing this entire thread, I'm considering adding the 4 CDs on the bottom row; definitely the first two to complete the string quartets and the highly recommended Oration/Phantasm - NOW, as to piano, not sure?  There seems to be plenty of recordings available; the Naxos bargain ones below have received some excellent reviews, but is Bridge's solo keyboard output worth pursuing - could go on Spotify and give a listen, I guess but any comments would be much appreciated.  Thanks.  Dave



     

The Lyrita 'Oration' is my No.1 choice and I have every other recording. The EMI Groves CD of orchestral music is perhaps the best Bridge disc ever recorded with an unrivalled 'Enter Spring'.

[Madiel]

For the piano music I went with Bebbington (3 volumes) and I'm happy with him. I'm moderately confident I compared with Wass before buying.

[Irons]

For the piano music I went with Bebbington (3 volumes) and I'm happy with him. I'm moderately confident I compared with Wass before buying.

As with every British composer under the sun any conversation on keyboard works must include Eric Parkin. Is there an important work he hasn't recorded?
The Bridge Sonata is a monumental work and a fine performance by Parkin.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

As with every British composer under the sun any conversation on keyboard works must include Eric Parkin. Is there an important work he hasn't recorded?
The Bridge Sonata is a monumental work and a fine performance by Parkin.

Hadn't heard of Eric Parkin before now, but I'll keep an eye out for his recordings.

I enjoy the Bridge CD on Naxos of his String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3.

PD

[SonicMan46]

Thanks RS for your comments - I was sold on those first two, but wondered about which pianists 'rose to the top' - I've been impressed w/ the reviews on Bebbington's recordings of various British composers on the Somm label but not available at great prices vs. Naxos, so will likely go w/ the Wass offerings.  Dave

For the piano music I went with Bebbington (3 volumes) and I'm happy with him. I'm moderately confident I compared with Wass before buying.

Thanks all for your comments on the Bridge 'piano options' - looked at some reviews of both Wass & Bebbington which are attached - some excellent ones for both and several pretty goods, but Bebbington seems to win by a nose - however w/ the Naxos pricing (nearly 2 to 1 vs. Somm), I decided to buy the two Wass recordings - listened to most of the first one on Spotify and was pleased, but also put together a Somm playlist of their 3 offerings and will audition soon.  Dave

[Irons]

Hadn't heard of Eric Parkin before now, but I'll keep an eye out for his recordings.

I enjoy the Bridge CD on Naxos of his String Quartets Nos. 1 & 3.

PD

Take a peek at the John Ireland thread, PD.

[Roasted Swan]

As with every British composer under the sun any conversation on keyboard works must include Eric Parkin. Is there an important work he hasn't recorded?
The Bridge Sonata is a monumental work and a fine performance by Parkin.

100% true regarding Eric Parkin but goodness me he recorded a lot of other repertoire too - and usually very well!  His William Baines recordings have been a recent revelation to me;



but then he's done some great 'light' Billy Mayerl



and even this great disc of American piano music.....

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Take a peek at the John Ireland thread, PD.

Thanks Irons! 

PD

[Irons]

100% true regarding Eric Parkin but goodness me he recorded a lot of other repertoire too - and usually very well!  His William Baines recordings have been a recent revelation to me;



but then he's done some great 'light' Billy Mayerl



and even this great disc of American piano music.....

You are right and wrong of me to pigeon-hole him in such a way especially as I have on my shelves...

[Madiel]

I'm seeing what look like a lot of Eric Parkin LPs. Which are not of much use to those of us without turntables, and would be a clear reason why he would not necessarily be included in a conversation.  If his recordings have never made it into CD or online formats, lots of us are not in a position to hear them and they're not going to be easy to purchase.