Frank Bridge - Dance Rhapsody

Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was a British composer, conductor and violin/viola player who, perhaps rather unfortunately is best remembered almost solely as a teacher of Benjamin Britten, whose music was to become more well known than Bridge's. 

Frank Bridge

Musicweb has this detailed (multi-page) study of Bridge and his music which is a highly recommended read. It has this to say about the Dance Rhapsody of 1908:

"Dance Rhapsody seems to fall within the sequence set by Delius, who wrote two such rhapsodies in 1908 and 1916 respectively. Bridge's Rhapsody dates from the same year as Delius's first rhapsody. Bridge had a life-long association with the 'rhapsody' format which permits a freedom not available in stricter forms such as the sonata and symphony . The rhapsody has some distinctive fingerprints but there is also some Tchaikovsky in this big work. Bridge conducted the first public performance at the Liverpool Festival of the British Music League on 25 August 1908. The musical language used is less distinctive and in some points far less subtle, especially in the overblown bass-drum blows and gong-stroke which ends the first section; Bridge would soon have far more restraint. The second episode is very much out of the Tchaikovsky colouring book, but before long an elegant tune, played by the woodwind, seems to be a blend of one of De Falla's tunes from El Amor Brujo and one of Bliss's cooler moments from Things to Come. There are many delicately orchestrated moments in this attractive score and a French, almost Italianate, sweetness is to be found in the central section. Bridge must also have been listening to the works of Elgar at the time and, in years to come, it would be not be surprising if Samuel Barber had not heard the Bridge work before writing his own grand-manner dance suite, Souvenirs."

Cartridge: Miyajima Shilabe MC

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R

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