Frank Bridge

[Madiel]

I was expecting pastoral cowpat music.

The title references Ophelia's suicide in Hamlet, so...

[Roasted Swan]

I was expecting pastoral cowpat music.

I so dislike that description wherever it is applied......

[Maestro267]

The title references Ophelia's suicide in Hamlet, so...

Well I know that now...

[Maestro267]

Listening to the Dance Rhapsody now and it's utterly spectacular! It reminds me in some ways of a piece like Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien.

[relm1]

Managed to pick up the Hickox-conducted set of Bridge Orchestral Works, 6 discs. Looking forward to diving in. Currently on the surprisingly dark for its title There Is A Willow Grows Aslant A Brook.

A very fine and moving piece.  Such an excellent composer. 

[Symphonic Addict]

If you find Dance Rhapsody enjoyable, you will be a little surprised by his Dance Poem too.

[Symphonic Addict]

I forgot to mention that Enter Spring is a must-hear in case some people don't know it yet. A sovereign masterpiece.

[Irons]

If you find Dance Rhapsody enjoyable, you will be a little surprised by his Dance Poem too.

From Tchaikovsky to Debussy.

[kyjo]

Over the past few days, I revisited two of Bridge's unquestionable masterpieces: Enter Spring and There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook, both composed in the year 1927:



Dare I say Enter Spring is one of the greatest tone poems ever written? The title might lead one to expect a pleasant, pastoral "walk in the park", though it is anything but! It is a work of elemental power and life-force, with a bracing windswept quality and storms never too far in the distance. That said, it certainly not as dark as most of Bridge's other late works, and the final few minutes are unforgettably life-affirming, with its glorious tune repeated with increasing fervor over an inexorable, pendulum-like accompaniment complete with tubular bells near the end. And what a wonderful performance it receives here by the RLPO under Sir Charles Groves!

If Enter Spring is one of Bridge's most extroverted works, by contrast There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook (titled an Impression for small orchestra) is inward-looking, deeply mysterious, and tensely atmospheric. In its 11-minute duration it manages to cast a dark, unsettling spell upon the listener with its slithering, uncertain harmonies and purposefully restrained orchestration.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Over the past few days, I revisited two of Bridge's unquestionable masterpieces: Enter Spring and There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook, both composed in the year 1927:



Dare I say Enter Spring is one of the greatest tone poems ever written? The title might lead one to expect a pleasant, pastoral "walk in the park" but this work is anything but! It is a work of elemental power and life-force, with a bracing windswept quality and storms never too far in the distance. That said, it certainly not as dark as most of Bridge's other late works, and the final few minutes are unforgettably life-affirming, with its glorious tune repeated with increasing fervor over an inexorable, pendulum-like accompaniment complete with tubular bells near the end. And what a wonderful performance it receives here by the RLPO under Sir Charles Groves!

If Enter Spring is one of Bridge's most extroverted works, by contrast There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook (an Impression for small orchestra) is inward-looking, deeply mysterious, and tensely atmospheric. In its 11-minute duration it manages to cast a dark, unsettling spell upon the listener with its slithering, uncertain harmonies and purposefully restrained orchestration.

Both are of those works are incredibly fine and I'm due for a revisit. What do you think of The Sea? What a gorgeous and powerful evocation of the sea.

[kyjo]

Both are of those works are incredibly fine and I'm due for a revisit. What do you think of The Sea? What a gorgeous and powerful evocation of the sea.

That was a quick reply, John! I like The Sea well enough, but I recall being rather underwhelmed by it the last time I listened. In particular, I remember there was something I didn't like about the triumphant ending (it seemed rather "forced"?). That said, I'll have to check out the Groves recording which I haven't heard yet, since it was just recently added to Spotify. At the moment, my favorite musical evocations of the sea remain Atterberg's Symphony No. 3 West Coast Pictures, Bax's Tintagel, Debussy's La mer, and Nystroem's Sinfonia del mare and Songs by the Sea.

[Symphonic Addict]

+1 on Enter Spring, one of my favorite pieces of all time. The very first time I heard it, it left me in sheer ecstasy.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

That was a quick reply, John! I like The Sea well enough, but I recall being rather underwhelmed by it the last time I listened. In particular, I remember there was something I didn't like about the triumphant ending (it seemed rather "forced"?). That said, I'll have to check out the Groves recording which I haven't heard yet, since it was just recently added to Spotify. At the moment, my favorite musical evocations of the sea remain Atterberg's Symphony No. 3 West Coast Pictures, Bax's Tintagel, Debussy's La mer, and Nystroem's Sinfonia del mare and Songs by the Sea.

All of those works you mentioned are glorious, although my love and admiration for Debussy's La Mer has diminished through the years. Debussy is amongst my 'Top 5' favorite composers, but I suppose as the old adage goes that familiarity breeds contempt. I still think La Mer is a masterpiece, but I'm kind of burned out on it. Some my other favorite sea-related works: Sibelius' The Oceanides and The Tempest, Tchaikovsky's The Tempest, Delius' Sea Drift, Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau, Bloch's Poems of the Sea and Enescu's Vox maris.

[foxandpeng]

Over the past few days, I revisited two of Bridge's unquestionable masterpieces: Enter Spring and There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook, both composed in the year 1927:



Dare I say Enter Spring is one of the greatest tone poems ever written? The title might lead one to expect a pleasant, pastoral "walk in the park", though it is anything but! It is a work of elemental power and life-force, with a bracing windswept quality and storms never too far in the distance. That said, it certainly not as dark as most of Bridge's other late works, and the final few minutes are unforgettably life-affirming, with its glorious tune repeated with increasing fervor over an inexorable, pendulum-like accompaniment complete with tubular bells near the end. And what a wonderful performance it receives here by the RLPO under Sir Charles Groves!

If Enter Spring is one of Bridge's most extroverted works, by contrast There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook (titled an Impression for small orchestra) is inward-looking, deeply mysterious, and tensely atmospheric. In its 11-minute duration it manages to cast a dark, unsettling spell upon the listener with its slithering, uncertain harmonies and purposefully restrained orchestration.

I concur. And 'The Sea'.

[Roasted Swan]

That was a quick reply, John! I like The Sea well enough, but I recall being rather underwhelmed by it the last time I listened. In particular, I remember there was something I didn't like about the triumphant ending (it seemed rather "forced"?). That said, I'll have to check out the Groves recording which I haven't heard yet, since it was just recently added to Spotify. At the moment, my favorite musical evocations of the sea remain Atterberg's Symphony No. 3 West Coast Pictures, Bax's Tintagel, Debussy's La mer, and Nystroem's Sinfonia del mare and Songs by the Sea.

The score of The Sea is on IMSLP and it is well worth following just to appreciate not only Bridge's skill as an orchestrator but also the subtlety of his harmony and rhythm. A genuinely fine work and composer even if the later works are even more original and individual.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

The score of The Sea is on IMSLP and it is well worth following just to appreciate not only Bridge's skill as an orchestrator but also the subtlety of his harmony and rhythm. A genuinely fine work and composer even if the later works are even more original and individual.

The Sea, Enter Spring and There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook are all masterpieces in my book. I know some have expressed some disappointment with The Sea, but, honestly, under Groves' or Handley's baton it suffers from nothing. As I've mentioned, I adore it more than Debussy's La Mer truth be told. And this isn't a slight against Debussy, but Bridge's evocation of the sea is truly awe-inspiring.

The chamber works are also something that I think only add to the Bridge arsenal as it were. I'm still in the process of reconnecting with Bridge's music, but to say that I've been impressed thus far would certainly be an understatement. Britten learned well from him.

[kyjo]

All of those works you mentioned are glorious, although my love and admiration for Debussy's La Mer has diminished through the years. Debussy is amongst my 'Top 5' favorite composers, but I suppose as the old adage goes that familiarity breeds contempt. I still think La Mer is a masterpiece, but I'm kind of burned out on it. Some my other favorite sea-related works: Sibelius' The Oceanides and The Tempest, Tchaikovsky's The Tempest, Delius' Sea Drift, Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau, Bloch's Poems of the Sea and Enescu's Vox maris.

Yeah, I sympathize with your views about Debussy's La mer - it's played so often that it's hard to avoid over-exposure to it. I feel that way about most works in the standard orchestral rep, yet most conductors, musicians, and orchestral managers seemingly never tire of programming/playing the same works over and over again...

I'm also a big fan of those other sea-inspired works that you mentioned - Zemlinsky's glorious Die Seejungfrau is a particular favorite of mine. I must admit I've yet to hear Enescu's Vox maris.

[kyjo]

The Sea, Enter Spring and There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook are all masterpieces in my book. I know some have expressed some disappointment with The Sea, but, honestly, under Groves' or Handley's baton it suffers from nothing. As I've mentioned, I adore it more than Debussy's La Mer truth be told. And this isn't a slight against Debussy, but Bridge's evocation of the sea is truly awe-inspiring.

The chamber works are also something that I think only add to the Bridge arsenal as it were. I'm still in the process of reconnecting with Bridge's music, but to say that I've been impressed thus far would certainly be an understatement. Britten learned well from him.

I will definitely revisit The Sea soon! And his chamber output perhaps contains even more riches than his orchestral one. I'm particularly fond of the chamber works he composed near the end of his "early" period - namely, the incredibly beautiful Piano Quintet, the Phantasy Piano Quartet, the String Quartet No. 2, and the Cello Sonata. I'm not as familiar with his later chamber works save for the mysterious and intriguing Piano Trio No. 2.

[Symphonic Addict]

Regarding his chamber music, the string quartets 3 and 4 are not to be missed either. The sort of music that rewards enormously with successive listens.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Yeah, I sympathize with your views about Debussy's La mer - it's played so often that it's hard to avoid over-exposure to it. I feel that way about most works in the standard orchestral rep, yet most conductors, musicians, and orchestral managers seemingly never tire of programming/playing the same works over and over again...

I'm also a big fan of those other sea-inspired works that you mentioned - Zemlinsky's glorious Die Seejungfrau is a particular favorite of mine. I must admit I've yet to hear Enescu's Vox maris.

I will definitely revisit The Sea soon! And his chamber output perhaps contains even more riches than his orchestral one. I'm particularly fond of the chamber works he composed near the end of his "early" period - namely, the incredibly beautiful Piano Quintet, the Phantasy Piano Quartet, the String Quartet No. 2, and the Cello Sonata. I'm not as familiar with his later chamber works save for the mysterious and intriguing Piano Trio No. 2.

Regarding his chamber music, the string quartets 3 and 4 are not to be missed either. The sort of music that rewards enormously with successive listens.

@kyjo you must check out Enescu's Vox maris. It is superb! And yes, you and @Symphonic Addict are correct in pointing out the richness of Bridge's chamber music. I'll be going through the four SQs at some point in the near future. Probably next week.