Andante (Six Pieces, No. 3)

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

In many ways, I think this is perhaps the most "substantial" piece in the collection. It's quiet, so, it could be overlooked, but there is a certain similarity to the famous "Pastorale" of Cesar Franck, especially with the repeated staccato chords and interactive dialogues.

To me, this little one is quite an effective piece, and shows more "artistic tendencies" than some others within the group.

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 Joseph Bridge 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. :-)