Andante con moto (Six Pieces, No. 1)

Joseph Cox Bridge (1853-1929) was an English organist and composer. Born at Rochester, Kent, studied under John Hopkins and his elder brother, Frederick, who later became organist of Westminster Abbey.

From 1871 to 1876 he was organist of Exeter College, Oxford, and received his Mus. B. in 1876. He was assistant to his brother at Manchester Cathedral, before being appointed to Chester Cathedral in 1877. There he revived the Chester triennial festival. In 1908 he became a professor at the University of Durham.

His works include an oratorio, "Daniel" (1885); a "Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C", for voice and orchestra (1879); and a considerable amount of organ-music, anthems, and part-songs.

"Andante con moto" is taken from "Original Compositions" published by Weekes and Co. in 1885, and "Inscribed to J. B. Miller, Ffolliett House, Chester". It is the first piece in the collection.

The piece is tuneful, with no drag, and some nice harmonies and a bit of dialogue between manuals. The registration is of the "typical English type," with the Swell oboe being prominent in the small chorus.

The score for the six pieces, NOW COMPLETE, courtesy of Dr. John Henderson is attached below, as well as a photo Joseph Cox Bridge, one of his brother, Frederick, and photos of Manchester and Chester cathedrals, as well as the splendid memorial to him in Chester.

I plan to do the complete set of six, so, I'll do the "Fanfare" again, this time with a more "traditional" use of the organ. :-)