Frank Bridge - from Hamlet: There is a willow grows aslant a brook

Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

There is a willow grows aslant a brook; Impression for small orchestra (from Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

English String Orchestra conducted by William Boughton

There is a willow grows aslant a brook,
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;
There with fantastic garlands did she come
Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them.
There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds
Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke;
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide;
And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up;
Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes;
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and indu'd
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank
• Bridge
• from
• Hamlet
• There
• is
• willow
• grows
• aslant
• brook

[hoppy318]

This has to be my favorite Frank Bridge work.  It is truly English in every aspect, and moreover, seems to capture the evocative emotion of its time. It is a real masterwork in "short-form". This (as do other Frank Bridge works) demonstrates his mastery of the medium and his uncanny insight into the psychology of great musical works, his grasp of subtile orchestration and his understanding of how to communicate an idea. His works should be performed and broadcast much more often.

[bartje11]

@hoppy318 Thanks for your nice comment! This is indeed a magnificent gem.

[iclt1940]

Wonderful piece. Vastly underrated composer, dismissed for too many years as "Benjamin Britten's teacher" and nothing more. Why does BBC Radio 3 turn its back on Britsih composers?

Sincere thanks for this posting.

Ian T

[1234cottagedoor]

A few times in my life I have been so transfixed by a piece of music on the radio I had to stop what I was doing and let it blow me away. This was my introduction to Bridge; I can still hear myself saying "what the hell was THAT, and why haven't I heard it before?". As I write he is BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week and the presenter has twice said of other Bridge works "I've never heard this before, isn't it amazing". At least this piece is in the repertoire, and the fan base is growing.

[Frenchprof100]

Living in Frank Bridge's village near Beachy Head, I recently began investigating his music , and am so glad that I did. If you can, do drive to Beachy Head at sunset, put 'The Sea' on the CD player, and just drink in the music along with the rolling downs and the glittering sea below. I can recommend the experience !

Am now collecting all his work and playing his piano music, and wishing I had

known it all a long time ago. Completely agree that he is far too neglected on

the radio.

[arielunbound]

Anyone who uploads "Isabella" too will be my HEROxox Frank Bridge=Beautiful.

[dbrittdbritt]

@JCHBONNET Sorry for this late reply. This seems to be a photo. Found it on Flickr

I had trouble finding a name of the artist. Talk to you later!

JM

[JCHBONNET]

Hi JM ! Would you be so kind to let me know who the painter is ? This artwork seems to be inspired by Waterhouse's "Ophelia" but has not achieved the same popularity.

Thanks for the music !

JC

[operbathosa]

Unexpected. Thank you for posting.

[AllErikaEclectica]

Thank you for this evocative and melancholy new posting, so steeped in beauty.