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SOMM Recordings

The Piano Music Of Frank Bridge Vol 2 / Mark Bebbington

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Details

Composer
BRIDGE, FRANK
Artist
Mark Bebbington
Format
CD
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Jul 01, 2008
Catalog #
SOMMCD 082
UPC
748871308220

About



BRIDGE A Fairy Tale Suite. In Autumn. Miniature Pastorals, Set 1. Étude rhapsodique. Graziella. Dramatic Fantasia. 3 Pieces. A Sea Idyll. Miniature Suite. Characteristic Pieces • Mark Bebbington (pn) • SOMM 82 (77:26)


I wonder when Frank Bridge was first led astray by Scriabin, forsaking the Lisztian bravado of the Dramatic Fantasia for the dark, sensuous tendrils of Graziella and the lascivious impressionism of the Characteristic Pieces. Mark Bebbington’s second volume of Bridge piano works stresses the later achievements, from 1917 on, leading up to and away from the big Piano Sonata of 1924. Ravel is a strong presence in the Fairy Tale Suite and elsewhere, but the themes, early and late, are all Bridge, and mostly memorable.


Whatever its roots, whether outrage at the Great War or more personal passions, the best of these miniatures are very good indeed, and demand the very best players. The works, like the Sonata, are simply not well enough known yet, and they need a broader performing tradition. I hope Russian pianists start to pick up on In Autumn, Graziella , and the other late works. Bebbington, like Ashley Wass and Kathryn Stott, has gone far beyond the “mere” technical problems, which are not small, and the competing Bridge cycles complement each other. If you are going to get just one, then I’d go with Wass on Naxos, whose piano I also just prefer in the upper octaves. But Bebbington conveys most of Bridge’s range, and he’s especially good in the mini- Dante Sonata , which is the Fantasia, and in the 1921 Miniature Suite , with its Prokofievisms.


Ideally, I’d like to hear a hypersensitive Slavic Scriabin interpreter have a tilt at Graziella and “Water Nymphs” from the Characteristic Pieces. But all the pianists I’m thinking of are dead. Maybe Tharaud for “Fragrance” and “Bitter Sweet” from the same Ravelian late set. As you’ll gather, the serious competition for Bebbington and Wass is imaginary. The recommendation is real enough, though. Some of the music in this volume is more British and interesting than it is moving, but more than half of it is top-notch. Wass edges it for feel and expressive range, but Bebbington’s runs, trills, graded dynamics, and sweep are no disappointment.


FANFARE: Paul Ingram

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 I. The Princess 03:00
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. The Princess
    Duration
    03:00
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  2. 2 II. The Ogre 01:27
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. The Ogre
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  3. 3 III. The Spell 03:27
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. The Spell
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  4. 4 IV. The Prince 02:55
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. The Prince
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  5. 5 I. Retrospect: Adagio ma non troppo 05:47
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Retrospect: Adagio ma non troppo
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  6. 6 II. Through the Eaves: Allegro moderato e rubato 02:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Through the Eaves: Allegro moderato e rubato
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  7. 7 I. Allegretto con moto 01:39
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegretto con moto
    Duration
    01:39
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  8. 8 II. Tempo de Valse 01:55
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Tempo de Valse
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  9. 9 III. Allegretto ben moderato 02:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Allegretto ben moderato
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  10. 10 Etude rhapsodique 02:25
    Track
    10
    Title
    Etude rhapsodique
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  11. 11 Graziella 04:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    Graziella
    Duration
    04:35
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  12. 12 Dramatic Fantasia 12:36
    Track
    12
    Title
    Dramatic Fantasia
    Duration
    12:36
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  13. 13 No. 2. Columbine 03:08
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 2. Columbine
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  14. 14 No. 1. Minuet 02:03
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 1. Minuet
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  15. 15 No. 3. Romance 03:54
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 3. Romance
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  16. 16 A Sea Idyll: I. — 05:18
    Track
    16
    Title
    A Sea Idyll: I. —
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  17. 17 I. Chorale 03:24
    Track
    17
    Title
    I. Chorale
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  18. 18 II. Impromptu 01:57
    Track
    18
    Title
    II. Impromptu
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  19. 19 III. Caprice 01:13
    Track
    19
    Title
    III. Caprice
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  20. 20 IV. March 01:23
    Track
    20
    Title
    IV. March
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  21. 21 No. 1. Water Nymphs 02:18
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 1. Water Nymphs
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  22. 22 No. 2. Fragrance 03:30
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 2. Fragrance
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  23. 23 No. 3. Bittersweet 02:22
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 3. Bittersweet
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington
  24. 24 No. 4. Fireflies 02:07
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 4. Fireflies
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Frank Bridge
    Performer
    Mark Bebbington