Featured Composer

Who is Frank Bridge?

Frank Bridge (born in Brighton, on 26 February 1879) was the featured composer in our series Sounds of War – Instruments of Peace 1914-2014.

As a pacifist, Bridge was deeply affected emotionally by the First World War, writing several pieces in memory of friends lost during the war. Lament for Catherine is named after a nine-year old girl that Bridge knew who was killed on the Lusitania, torpedoed by the Germans in 1915. His post-war Piano Sonata is dedicated to memory of his friend the composer Ernest Farrar, and Three Improvisations for left hand were composed for the soldier-musician Douglas Fox who lost his right arm during the conflict.

Major works by performed in the series:

• Lament for Catherine
• Cello Sonata
• Piano Sonata
• Three Improvisations for left hand