Frank Bridge - String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, H. 70, 'Bologna'

Frank Bridge (1879 - 1941) - String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, H. 70, 'Bologna' (1906)

I. Adagio - Allegro appassionato [0:00]
II. Adagio molto [8:44]
III. Allegretto grazioso - Animato [18:16]
IV. Allegro agitato - Allegro moderato - Adagio molto [23:07]

Maggini Quartet (2002)

Frank Bridge's String Quartet No. 1 is a work in four movements typically lasting around 30 minutes.

"Bridge’s First String Quartet was written in haste in the space of a month during 1906, in response to a competition organized by the Accademia Filarmonica, Bologna, hence the quartet’s sobriquet. Of the 67 quartets submitted only Bridge’s received a ‘mention d’honneur’. He had had to work at such speed that there was no time to copy a second set of parts, and it took the Accademia two-and-a-half years to return the originals; consequently, the work was not given its first performance until 1909 when the English String Quartet performed it in London.

The first movement begins with a characteristic structural feature of Bridge’s works that is clearly linked to the experience of writing his Cobbett compositions: a short slow introduction in which key thematic ideas are introduced. Here it is a two-bar, sad, falling chromatic cello phrase. Two pianissimo chords follow, pregnant with anticipation, before the music plunges direct into the drama of the Allegro appassionato with the first violin taking over the motif. Overall the mood is turbulent, although respite is supplied by the movement’s other main thematic idea, a tender melody introduced by the viola. Cast in an arch shape, the Adagio molto opens with mysterious chords, alternating with a plaintive first violin phrase. An extended theme on viola follows, whose initial reticence is transformed into a passionate burst of emotion. The middle of the movement is more animated, then the opening ideas return with the cello taking up the viola’s melody, in dialogue with the first violin. The Scherzo is all dancing airiness and light, whilst the trio is graced by a melody shared between first violin and viola whose rhythm is frequently at odds with the underlying pizzicato accompaniment. Later in the trio Bridge clearly alludes to the main motif of the opening movement. Both the main melodic ideas of the finale are heard initially from the first violin, and both are flowing in character, the first one accompanied by sonorous texture and the second incorporating triplets. In a masterly stroke of thematic unity, Bridge reintroduces the main motif of the first movement at the end of the work. The music fades, all comes full circle as the cello intones the motif for the last time and the quartet ends in a mood of sombre tragedy."

(source: Naxos)

[gavinfrody]

This is absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe I haven't found him earlier - me loving almost every single one of his works I've listened to so far. Reminds me a bit of Gliere's quartets as well

[pablomartinez]

Imagine loving bologna so much that you nickname one of your quartets “bologna”

[johnnynoirman]

The adagio is like Bridge sound asleep and the Allegro is like him getting a hot foot and springing out of bed in pain!