Post by erik on Nov 25, 2023 22:09:44 GMT -5
The early 20th century English composer Frank Bridge is in this week's Classical Works Spotlight with the English equivalent of Debussy's "La Mer".
Frank Bridge: THE SEA
Remembered more as the teacher of the great modern English composer and conductor Lord Benjamin Britten, Frank Bridge lived from 1879 to 1941, and contributed much to the growth of English classical music in the first half of the 20th century, though his achievements were overshadowed by, among others, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir William Walton, and Ralph Vaughan-Williams. For those in the know, however, Bridge is known for having given us a four-part symphonic tone painting in sound that is sort of like the English equivalent to Debussy’s “La Mer”—ironically titled “The Sea”. Composed in 1910-11, with World War I still three years in his and England’s future, “The Sea” is a somewhat stormier work than the beautiful soundscape that Debussy created for himself, but vivid all the same. The first movement, “Seascape”, paints a picture of the sea on a an early summer morning; while the second, titled “Sea Foam”, depicts the natural foam of the sea frothing on the low-lying rocks and pools in a playful manner. The third movement, “Moonlight”, depicts a calm sea at night with moonlight streaming through dark clouds to shimmer and bathe the sea in a silvery light; while the fourth movement, entitled “Storm”, is, naturally enough, a scene of violent winds and pouring rains. Although it would be many decades, and long after the composer’s death, before this work even became popular in England, let alone America, Bridge did conduct its premieres in the U.S. in Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit. Meanwhile, Britten, being Bridge’s most prominent compositional student, admitted that this singular work gave him idea for a similar four-part orchestral work, “Four Sea Interludes”, that were featured in his 1943 opera Peter Grimes; and in his side-job as a conductor, he championed his teacher’s work right up until the time of his own passing in 1976.
Long Beach Symphony Orchestra/JOANN FALLETTA (Albany)
Included (Impressions Of The Sea):
Mendelssohn: HEBRIDES OVERTURE (FINGAL’S CAVE), OP. 26
Debussy: LA MER
Liadov: THE ENCHANTED LAKE
Debussy: THE SUNKEN CATHEDRAL
Frank Bridge: THE SEA
Remembered more as the teacher of the great modern English composer and conductor Lord Benjamin Britten, Frank Bridge lived from 1879 to 1941, and contributed much to the growth of English classical music in the first half of the 20th century, though his achievements were overshadowed by, among others, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir William Walton, and Ralph Vaughan-Williams. For those in the know, however, Bridge is known for having given us a four-part symphonic tone painting in sound that is sort of like the English equivalent to Debussy’s “La Mer”—ironically titled “The Sea”. Composed in 1910-11, with World War I still three years in his and England’s future, “The Sea” is a somewhat stormier work than the beautiful soundscape that Debussy created for himself, but vivid all the same. The first movement, “Seascape”, paints a picture of the sea on a an early summer morning; while the second, titled “Sea Foam”, depicts the natural foam of the sea frothing on the low-lying rocks and pools in a playful manner. The third movement, “Moonlight”, depicts a calm sea at night with moonlight streaming through dark clouds to shimmer and bathe the sea in a silvery light; while the fourth movement, entitled “Storm”, is, naturally enough, a scene of violent winds and pouring rains. Although it would be many decades, and long after the composer’s death, before this work even became popular in England, let alone America, Bridge did conduct its premieres in the U.S. in Cleveland, Boston, and Detroit. Meanwhile, Britten, being Bridge’s most prominent compositional student, admitted that this singular work gave him idea for a similar four-part orchestral work, “Four Sea Interludes”, that were featured in his 1943 opera Peter Grimes; and in his side-job as a conductor, he championed his teacher’s work right up until the time of his own passing in 1976.
Long Beach Symphony Orchestra/JOANN FALLETTA (Albany)
Included (Impressions Of The Sea):
Mendelssohn: HEBRIDES OVERTURE (FINGAL’S CAVE), OP. 26
Debussy: LA MER
Liadov: THE ENCHANTED LAKE
Debussy: THE SUNKEN CATHEDRAL