Once chiefly esteemed for the radicalism of his late style, Frank Bridge is no less admired today for his earlier works written in a polished romantic idiom tailored both to the taste of his audience and the capabilities of his performers.
The Four Short Pieces for violin and piano of 1912 are a perfect flowering of these gifts. With Meditation and Country Dance from the set already published separately by Stainer & Bell, the release of Spring Song and Lullaby as a pair makes the complete collection now available.
Spring Song is a charming aubade in the manner of Elgar’s Chanson de Matin, but with a piquant modality also redolent of Gabriel Fauré’s salon style. The smoothly eloquent melody of Lullaby showcases vibrato, evenness of tone and bowing control.