Frank Bridge - Piano Sonata

Frank Bridge (26 February 1879 – 10 January 1941)

The curious case of Frank Bridge, a highly disciplined composer of evocative romantic music who turned away from musical orthodoxy, developed a post-tonal musical language, and lost his audience. There is an informative biographical “sketch” by his friend Marjorie Fass to be found on the web. For many years of obscurity, Bridge was known only as the source of his pupil Benjamin Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.

The piano sonata, a large scale work in three movements was the first to showcase this new style. To our modern ears, we wonder what all the fuss was about, but to his contemporaries it was felt that he had lost his way. His dedication to the work is shown by the time it took to complete, from 1922 to 1925. From the first notes of the first movement we know we are in for some deep seriousness. Unlike Bax whose style was more discursive, there is great discipline in the thematic development and overall form of the piece. The gigantic climaxes of the first and third movements and the tender lyricism of the second movement recognize the wonder and praise the sonata endures.

1. Lento ma non troppo. Andante ben moderato. Allegro energico
2. Andante ben moderato (13:48)
3. Lento. Allegro ma non troppo (22:11)

the usual; created, edited and mastered by me and my bad self. Love you all.

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