AVAILABILITY
www.meridian-records.co.uk
This Meridian contrasts with and complements
Hyperion's Helios CDH55063
in which the Dartington Trio tackle the same two Bridge trios
[see also Black
Box where you can listen to samples of the music- LM].
In place of the Dussek's Miniatures the Dartingtons (augmented)
offer the more substantial Phantasy Piano Quartet. The
two Cobbett-Phantasy works belong to Bridge's early romantic phase;
both at the high watermark of rolling exultant lyricism. The Phantasie
Trio in particular is a work by which to warm your hands and
heart. It is done equally well by Dusseks and Dartingtons with
the Dusseks favoured by a slightly cooler ambience which suits
the Bergian tendrils of the Piano Trio No. 2 rather more than
the Phantasie world. On the other hand the Meridian disc offers
greater playing time and the Miniatures are a rare item
that no Bridge enthusiast will want to miss. While the Meridian
lacks the Phantasy Quartet and thus stays true to its core
artists - using a piano trio throughout - the Miniatures
are from the same era as the Phantasy Quartet and so are
a more uniform choice. These nine pieces have titles six of which
are dance-based with a Romance, Intermezzo and March
Militaire - the latter finishing the set. Bridge was good
at these miniature pieces and did similar things for string quartet,
cello and piano and of course acreages solo piano morsels (on
four Continuum CDs). The Miniatures are pretty much charming
light music: accomplished mood pastels, sighs, vintage antiquery,
salon refreshments for conservatory concerts. They are patently
more sincere than the gimcrack peddled by some of the lighter
British practitioners such as Ketèlbey. The Romance
and Valse Russe link to the spattering of Bridge pieces
for cello and piano and indeed to Fauré's similar works.
Bridge is good at joy - you can hear it breaking out uncontrollably
in both the Saltarello and Hornpipe.
Rob Barnett
see the Frank Bridge web-site
Dussek Piano Trio