Obscure Music Monday: Bridge's 3 Idylls

Frank Bridge (Feb. 26, 1879 - Jan. 10, 1941) was an English composer, violist and conductor. Born in Brighton, he attended the Royal College of Music in London from 1899 to 1903, and was active as a violist in several string quartets. He also did a bit of conducting for awhile before devoting himself to composition, with one of his most famous students being Benjamin Britten. Bridge was prolific in his output, but his music is still comparatively little known, and not programmed very often, despite his works being held in high regard.

Bridge wrote 3 Idylls for string quartet in 1906, and dedicated the work to violinist Ethel Elmore Sinclair, who married Bridge a year later. His purpose in composing this piece was to demonstrate various moods and textures, which he did quite well. The opening movement, Adagio molto, starts with a gorgeous line in the viola, and the overall mood is dark, but contemplative. In the Allegretto lento, things start with a similarly as the movement before, but there are flashes of light and exuberance that shoo away that dark mood. Finally, in the Allegro con moto, is a totally different feel than the others. If the first two movements are dark winter evenings, then the final movement is a bright summer day! It's cheerful and always on the move. In each movement, all four instruments play equally important parts that Bridge weaves together beautifully to create moods, textures thick and thin, and intriguing tonal landscapes.