Andante (Six Pieces, No. 5)

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 fifth piece in the collection.

This piece is another "andante," but it's a little larger in scale and scope, with a nice harmonic usage, and continuously evolving melodic lines. The larger canvas also gives the opportunity for more variety in color and dynamics.

This piece seems quite "Mendelssohnian" to me.

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.