Frank Bridge: Piano Works Vol.2

Frank Bridge was an early twentieth century English composer. His works are not widely known, but are played increasingly, and more recordings are becoming available.

Some of his later works, such as his piano sonata, were influenced by Scriabin. This CD is the second of three, and covers a wide range of styles, but mostly in his earlier style.

Most of the pieces on this CD are fairly easy to listen to, and can be enjoyed ...
...available. I would recommend it to any listener interested in this type of music, but probably only the listener with a specialist interest in the piano or in rediscovering the music of Frank Bridge. It is not really suitable for the general listener.

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Frank Bridge was an early twentieth century English composer. His works are not widely known, but are played increasingly, and more recordings are becoming available.

Some of his later works, such as his piano sonata, were influenced by Scriabin. This CD is the second of three, and covers a wide range of styles, but mostly in his earlier style.

Most of the pieces on this CD are fairly easy to listen to, and can be enjoyed by the majority of classical music lovers.

The opening piece, Etude Rhapsodique, is an etude appropriately played by Jacobs, in the grand manner (of Liszt and other nineteenth century virtuosi), full of late nineteenth century panache, but with Bridge's own distinctive voice.

The second piece, Berceuse, is played beautifully, a gentle piece as the name would suggest (a lullaby) but again with Bridge's own distinctive voice.

The third piece, Dramatic Fantasia, is as its name suggests, an extended pieces with a wide range of emotions. It is an adventure to listen to it, and it is difficult to think of a similar piece with which to compare it. It also has some elements of the Grand Manner.

The Three Poems are the only pieces showing obvious influence of Scriabin, and are rather abstruse and difficult to appreciate. Perhaps another pianist could make more out them.

Some of the pieces are small descriptive pieces, similar in style to English composers such as Ireland and Moeran. These are enjoyable miniatures. Three Piano PIeces and Romance and Four Characteristic Pieces are included, with titles such as Colombine, Water Nymphs and Fire Flies which are aptly portrayed. The pianist has the requisite lightness and variety of touch to make these pieces conjure up the pictures of the titles.

There are a few other pieces on the CD which I find rather uninteresting, but these are a small minority.

The CD ends with the Four Vignettes de Marseille. These are reminiscent of the Spanish pieces of Debussy and Ravel. Perhaps even more, they recall Iberia for piano by the Spanish composer Albeniz. They are full of Spanish melodies and Spanish atmosphere (even though Marseille is actually in France). These pieces are shorter and more varied than Iberia, and more readily appreciated than some of the Spanish pieces by Debussy. Jacobs brings these pieces to life.

Overall an excellent CD providing an opportunity to enjoy a wide range of worthwhile works for which very few recordings are available. I would recommend it to any listener interested in this type of music, but probably only the listener with a specialist interest in the piano or in rediscovering the music of Frank Bridge. It is not really suitable for the general listener.

 

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