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Scan 534
Grove's Dictionary of music and musicians, 1927
90 lines. Read by computer on 5 September 2026. Printed page 468. See the scan on archive.org.
1such a line, but these are not always to be relied on.
2E. J. P.
4BRIDGE, FRANK (b. Brighton, Feb. 26, 1879), composer, conductor and viola-player, entered the R.C.M. as a violin student, won a composition scholarship in 1899, and studied four years with Stanford. His first engagement was as violinist in the Grimson Quartet; subsequently he became known as a viola-player, in which capacity he took the place of Wirth in the Joachim Quartet during an illness in 1906 and subsequently joined the English String Quartet, with which he remained associated until 1915. Meanwhile he had gained experience as a conductor with the New Symphony Orchestra at its foundation, taking charge of the repertory rehearsals. He conducted opera at the Savoy Theatre in 1910–11, when Marie Brema produced 'Orfeo' with Viola Tree as Eurydice, and was one of Raymond Roze's conductors in the season of opera he gave at Covent Garden in 1913. He has regularly conducted the Audrey Chapman Orchestra, and has frequently conducted at Queen's Hall the Philharmonic, London Symphony and other principal orchestras, generally through being called upon in an emergency. In 1923 he visited the United States, conducting his own compositions with the New York, Boston, Cleveland and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
6As a composer it is chiefly in the field of chamber music that Frank Bridge has made his reputation. Under the conditions prevailing in England an orchestral work, however well received, may not have more than two or three performances in a dozen years, whereas chamber works are constantly played in private if not in public. Most of Bridge's orchestral works have met with the former fate, with the exception of the 'Sea' Suite, published under the auspices of the Carnegie Trust, and the 'Lament' for strings in memory of a child victim of the Lusitania tragedy. Four of his chamber works appeared under various schemes initiated by W. W. COBBETT (q.v.): Fantasy string quartet (2nd prize, 1905), Fantasy-Trio (1st prize, 1908), Fantasy Quartet, piano and strings (commissioned in 1910), and the second string quartet in G minor (prize-work, 1915). It should, however, be noted that the last-named work was not specially written for the occasion, but was nearing completion when the competition was announced. The first string quartet (in E minor) won a mention d'honneur at Bologna in 1906. Other important works are the piano quintet composed in 1905, and afterwards revised, and the string sextet of 1915. Bridge has also written a violoncello sonata, and one for piano solo (produced by Myra Hess, 1926). Of his numerous piano pieces some represent an earlier technical stage, and some, such as the 'Four Characteristic Pieces' and 'Three Poems,' later developments. In the same manner some earlier songs, written when Bridge's ideas were comparatively simple, benefited by their belated publication, which caused them to appear when the time was ripe for them, thus giving the impression that the maturer Bridge was making concessions to his public, which he had no intention of doing. Bridge remains faithful to the logic of the exceptionally fine technique he acquired early in his career, and does not find his orthodoxy an impediment to originality of thought. He also has a more scrupulous regard than most of his contemporaries for the performers who, especially in chamber music, invariably enjoy playing his works. These characteristic qualities, which doubtless derive to some extent from Bridge's own experience as an executant, are the basis of a style that nevertheless has much freedom combined with its classic breadth and formal coherence.
7E. E.
9ORCHESTRAL
101907. Symphonic Poem, 'Isabella.'
111908. Dance Rhapsody.
121909–10. Suite for string orchestra.
131910. Five Entr'actes, 'The Hunchback.'
141910–11. Suite, 'The Sea' (Carnegie Trust).
151913. Dance Poem.
161914. Tone-Poem, 'Summer.'
171915. Lament for string orchestra (also arranged for pianoforte solo).
181915. Two Poems (Richard Jefferies).
191922. Sir Roger de Coverley (orchestral version).
21CHAMBER MUSIC
221904. Three Novelettes (string quartet).
231905. Phantasy String Quartet.
241905. Quintet (pianoforte and strings).
251906. Three Idylls (string quartet).
261906. String Quartet in E minor (Bologna).
271906. Miniatures (easy) for pianoforte, violin and v'cl.
281908. Phantasy Trio (pianoforte, violin and v'cl.).
291908. An Irish Melody (Londonderry air) for string quartet.
301910. Phantasy Quartet (pianoforte, violin, viola and v'cl.).
311912. Sextet (2 violins, 2 violas and 2 v'cls.).
321913–17. Sonata for violoncello.
331915. String Quartet in G minor.
341916. 'Sally in our Alley,' 'Cherry Ripe' (string quartet).
351921–24. Pianoforte sonata.
361922. Sir Roger de Coverley (string quartet).
38PIANOFORTE SOLO
39Minuet.
40Columbine.
41Romance.
42Sea Idyl.
43Capriccio No. 1.
44Capriccio No. 2.
45Three Poems.
46Arabesque.
47Three Sketches.
48Three Miniature Pastorals (easy).
49Four Characteristic Pieces.
50Suite, 'A Fairy Tale.'
51Three Improvisations for the left hand alone.
52The Hour Glass (3 numbers).
53Heart's Ease.
54Dainty Rogue.
55The Hedgerow.
56In Autumn.
57Sonata No. 1.
59VIOLIN AND PIANOFORTE
60Gondoliera.
61Four Easy Pieces.
62Norse Legend.
63Souvenir.
64Amaryllis.
65Moto perpetuo.
66Cradle Song.
68VIOLONCELLO AND PIANOFORTE
69Elegie.
70Melodie.
71Morning Song.
73VIOLA AND PIANOFORTE
74Pensiero.
75Allegro appassionata.
77ORGAN WORKS
78Andante moderato in C minor.
79Adagio in E major.
80Allegro con spirito in B flat major.
81First Book of Organ Pieces.
82Second Book of Organ Pieces.
84CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA
85Prayer (composed 1916; performed by Bach Choir, London, Apr. 2, 1919).
86Numerous Songs, School Songs, Part-songs.
87'Blow out, you Bugles.' 1918.
89BRIDGE, (1) SIR JOHN FREDERICK, Mus.D. (b. Oldbury, near Birmingham, Dec. 5, 1844; d. Westminster, Mar. 18, 1924), was for 36 years organist of Westminster Abbey and held many important appointments in London.
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