Arnold Cooke: Complete String Quartets, Volume One Bridge String Quartet

• Arnold Cooke (1906 - 2005): String Quartet No. 3:
• 1 Cooke: String Quartet No. 3: I. Allegro energico 04:57
• 2 Cooke: String Quartet No. 3: II. Andante 07:44
• 3 Cooke: String Quartet No. 3: III. Scherzo: Molto allegro 03:16
• 4 Cooke: String Quartet No. 3: IV. Allegro vivace 05:49
• String Quartet No. 5:
• 5 Cooke: String Quartet No. 5: Moderato – 03:39
• 6 Cooke: String Quartet No. 5: Allegro – 04:11
• 7 Cooke: String Quartet No. 5: Presto 01:21
• String Quartet No. 1:
• 8 Cooke: String Quartet No. 1: I. Fuga: Lento non troppo 08:03
• 9 Cooke: String Quartet No. 1: II. Scherzo: Vivace 05:18
• 10 Cooke: String Quartet No. 1: III. Intermezzo: Allegretto 05:26
• 11 Cooke: String Quartet No. 1: IV. Finale: Presto 06:15
• Total Runtime 55:59

Info for Arnold Cooke: Complete String Quartets, Volume One

The music of the Yorkshire-born Arnold Cooke (1906–2005) – solidly constructed, inventively contrapuntal, lyrical and energetic in turns – does not deserve the neglect it suffered even in its composer’s lifetime. This first album, of two presenting all five of Cooke’s string quartets, underlines his reputation for resourceful craftsmanship, presented in a style which sits downstream from Paul Hindemith, with whom he studied in Berlin, and from Béla Bartók.

The Bridge Quartet:
Colin Twigg, violin
Catherine Schofield, violin
Michael Schofield, viola
Lucy Wilding, cello

The Bridge Quartet
The history of the Bridge Quartet has been sprinkled with “discoveries”, As chosen artists for EM Recordings, the quartet members have relished opportunities to research and perform chamber music including neglected works by Norman O’Neill, Sir Hubert Parry, Goossens, Hurlstone and Howells to name a few. The most recent explorations have been on Ivor Gurney his song cycles with tenor Charles Daniels and baritone Roderick Williams.

“Roderick Williams sings The Western Playland with great understanding and engagement. Michael Dussek and The Bridge Quartet are exemplary partners for him” (John Quinn 2020 Music web)

As Kirckmann Concert Society artists the Quartet received 3 South Bank recital opportunities and has subsequently given several Wigmore Hall capacity concerts. Other notable highlights over their history have included the City of London Festival, the English Music Festival, the “Haydnfest” in Manchester, Jacksonville festival Florida, the Festival du Quatours a Cordes de Fayence, France, Fundacion Juan March Madrid, Musica Eterna Dubrovnik and Sofia Festival, Bulgaria.

An unusual asset, if not unique, of the Bridge Quartet is having within its ranks its own composer “in residence”. The leader, Colin Twigg has written works for the CBSO and also composed specifically for the Bridge Quartet. A CD featuring his chamber music compositions was recently released by Toccata Classics with excellent reviews "Performances, recording and Twigg's booklet notes are all exemplary, making for a worthwhile addition to Toccata Classics enterprising catalogue" 2017 Gramophone

If the string quartet is likened to a fine bottle of wine, Colin is the label. An alumni of the Menuhin school, he continued his studies with Oscar Shumsky and Spivakovsky in the USA with a Royal Society of Arts award and is a consummately expressive violinist. Lucy Wilding as the cellist is the bottle and provides impeccable technical security and dedication. In her formative years, whilst studying with Amaryllis Fleming Lucy participated in no fewer than 3 quartets. She continued her with studies with Pierre Fournier and later Ralph Kirshbaum. Michael and Cathy Schofield, as the inner voices, are the content. Cathy’s love of chamber music was sparked by her studies with quartet leaders Peter Cropper (Lindsays) and (with the aid of a Countess of Munster award) with Emmanuel Hurwitz (Aeolian). Michael is a graduate of the elite Manchester University and RNCM ‘joint course’ and as chief ‘repertoire researcher’ has illuminated many fine works which have found voice through the Bridge Quartet’s recording projects. Both Cathy and Michael are founding members of the Bridge Quartet and are married in real life as well as to the Quartet!

“this brilliant performance by Williams, Dussek and the Bridge Quartet, make this disc an absolute must-have, not just for Gurney aficionados but for all lovers of English song, indeed all song” Opera Today June 2020

The quartet has been established for over 30 years with founder leader, Colin Twigg, returning and currently celebrating over 10 years in his second tenure. Colin is also a composer whose works have been performed by the CBSO, recorded by the Bridge quartet and featured in the Deal Festival. His ‘Phantasy Quartet on a theme of Haydn’ was streamed from a live concert earlier this year by UMKC (USA) in their ‘Chamber Conversations’ series.

The quartet is very grateful to the "Bridge Quartet Initiative Trust" (charity no 1133156) which continues to support their ongoing recording projects and education work.

Booklet for Arnold Cooke: Complete String Quartets, Volume One