Bridge Orchestral Works 1-6

I really started out just looking for a few of Bridge's orchestral pieces that I wanted, but opted instead to plump for this fuller collection, since I found it at a good price. I've really enjoyed the breadth of orchestral pieces. I'm not a big song fan, so the vocal selections are not my cup of tea, and can't comment on them; but the orchestral pieces are.I always think Bridge has always been challenging to categorize neatly into a marketable "bucket." He was a direct contemporary of many 20th century English composers who more easily fit into the "pastoralist" category. Bridge doesn't, although he started out that way. As he progressed through the 1920s and beyond, though, his music got harmonically and structurally more daring and more succinctly written; he quickly outpaced some of his English contemporaries. That said, no one would ever accuse him of being a fully-paid up member of the 2nd Viennese school (he wasn't THAT daring!).So on the one hand, devotees of the Pastoralist school have tended to react negatively to his later works, while people who really enjoy more modern musical constructs tend to be quaintly amused: "oh look here's this English composer trying to be avant-garde...how cute!".If you can easily steer your way between this Scylla and Charybdis, then I think you'll find a composer who had interesting things to say, was a wizard at colorful orchestration, and could deal in a variety of forms and moods. Previously, I'd really thought the best Bridge compositions were in chamber music; and while I do love his chamber output, I am now more convinced than previously on his skills with an orchestra. His is perhaps not as colorful or as evocative a style as (say) Sir Arnold Bax, but he's really quite good. Had Bax not gotten immersed in his cups for the last decade of his life, he might easily had the gumption to stretch himself the way Bridge did.The performances--Ever the advocate, the late Richard Hickox conducted all this adroitly with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales & Chorus, accompanied by a bevy of top-notch soloists, including Howard Shelley (Piano on Phantasm), Alban Gerhardt (Cello on "Oration"), Philip Langridge (tenor) and others. Bridge's handful of really popular works--Enter Spring, The Sea, Phantasm--receive very good treatment here, equalling (although maybe not surpassing) earlier renditions that have become milestones (e.g., Sir Charles Groves' recording of "The Sea".) However, I will say this rendition of "Oration" is the best I've heard on disc.The sound is first rate, no surprise here since this is Chandos.These CDs also appeared separately, so if you're really after fill-ins, or just want to dip one toe in at a time, these might suit you better. As I said, I got the set because it was priced nicely.Lastly, I'll make another plug for Bridge's chamber music...also worth dipping into. But these Chandos CDs--in a box or separately--are well worth exploring.

Bridge was a contemporary of Holst and Vaughan Williams and wrote some really nice music. This is a 6 CD set of his orchestral works, conducted by Richard Hickox and recorded digitally. Which you can get for the price of 2-3 individual CDs. As bargains go, this is right up there with the Beethoven Symphonies by Gardiner. That one is cheap because it's been out for 10 years and the production costs were amortized long ago. This one is cheap, I think because no one has heard of Bridge. I don't think you'd spend any less money if you took your time and figured out just a few pieces by Bridge that you had to have and bought only recordings of those.

This is a simply wonderful collection. As in my title it is a gem. Considered a secondary composer by many his compositions are very pastoral and under the influence of Ravel and Scriabin. Is there a more atmospheric work than "There is a willow grows aslant a brook"? Chando is to be congratulated in gathering these works into a decently priced compilation. If you like Vaughan Williams you will like this masterly introduction to English 20th century music. Bridge has always been a "fill in" on many CDs but this collection standa alone on it's own merit. Bridge was a mentor and teacher to Benjamin Britten and his "Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge" paid homage to this underrated composer.

Drab Gebrauchtsmusik. I have only ever relistened to disk with 'Rebus'. Student Britten much better. Flawless performances of dated, generally uninspired, but workmanlike pieces. Chamber works are better. I can think of no reason to recommend this music, despite how carefully crafted and performed it is.

Disc no 6 has a number of orchestral songs that show something stylistically beyond the worlds of Elgar Butterworth Vaughan Williams and Quilter. What exists beyond those worlds is Bridge's originality and a freshness of expression that inspired Britten.The same could be said of many of the other works in this set which seems a massive labour of love. It was recorded over four years. Of the 43 works in this set most are complete recordings. All of the works are short so any could easily fit easily into a concert programme.All of the works make for pleasant listening. Many are enjoyable light music works. Like with Holst the later works show more individuality. All show beauty of expression and have interest.Works for string orchestra such as Suite for Strings, orchestral works such as Enter Spring, Summer and the Sea, and the orchestral songs stand out particularly.Bridge's works show a sensitivity of expression that will rarely make it to the BBC Proms. The performances in this set sound very involved. Once copies of the set have sold out it may be assumed that many of these works will not be reissued.

As a member of the BBC ad hoc singers I was privileged to be involved in this recording for the one choral piece by Frank Bridge called: A Prayer. I have several good friends who are also members of the orchestra and spoke to Richard Hickox often. He was such an enthusiastic conductor whose link with English music was unique. It was thrilling to watch him bring our the subtle colours and contours of the music. A truly memorable experience. I remember having coffee with him in the BBC Lounge in Llandaff and we chatted about his love of the national trust, good singers and his plans to go to Sydney to conduct Opera. Sadly this was cut short by his untimely death in 2008 whilst working on another recording with the BBC. Legacy is the right name for these outstanding reissues and I know anyone who purchases these recordings will not be disappointed. A lasting testament to a great man.

Excellent

A mixed bag of pleasant music which, although not living up to "Bridge, the forgotten modernist", does provide welcome relief from Drivetime radio.

This is really for Bridge enthusiasts, rather than for those who may have a casual or passing interest in him, or who are curious to know him better. The usual Bridge favourite are there, of course, together with a lot of material that you may not necessarily wish you had bought. Better to buy the individual discs separately and selectively, unless you really are a Bridge enthusiast, in which case this set represents excellent value for money.