Frank Bridge: an introduction to his music

Violist, conductor, composer and mentor to the young Benjamin Britten, Frank Bridge’s career spans the turn of the century and a moment of great change in British musical life. Come and learn about the life and work of this fascinating, often under-appreciated musician.

Choose a starting date

Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.

  • Start Date: 23 Feb 2027
    End Date: 16 Mar 2027
    Tue (Daytime): 10:30 - 12:30
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
    Course Code: MD036C
    Tutors:  Katy Hamilton
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00
    Add to Wish List

Any questions? music@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 4582 0412

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

Book your place
In stock
SKU
245803
Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00

What is the course about?

This course introduces students to the life and music of Frank Bridge, a student of Charles Stanford who enjoyed a highly successful career as a professional violist (particularly in string quartets), conductor (deputising for Henry Wood at the Proms and working regularly with BBC orchestras) and composer. Although we primarily know him now for his songs, Bridge’s output also includes numerous chamber works and colourful orchestral compositions, and his significance as an individual voice in British music, not to mention his influence as a teacher, will form part of our explorations.

What will we cover?

  • The shape of Bridge’s career, including his performing and teaching work
  • In-depth study of key works, from songs and chamber compositions to orchestral pieces such as The Sea and Phantasm
  • Aspects of reception, placing Bridge’s works in a wider historical and social context

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

  • Identify important biographical moments and key works in Bridge’s life
  • Comment on Bridge’s idiom, and summarise the musical characteristics of his key works
  • Recognise Bridge’s significance as a teacher and his influence on younger musical generations in Britain

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for students at many levels, and no special music-reading skills are needed. However, a basic interest and beginners’ knowledge of classical music is advised for context: (e.g. What is a symphony? Which instruments are in a string quartet? And what do we mean by the Romantic tradition?)

This course is most suitable for those who regularly listen to classical music, as they will be able to compare/contrast the works on this course with memories of famous pieces of western classical music.
If you identify as an absolute beginner with little or no previous experience of listening to western classical music, we recommend you first consider our Exploring classical music courses which will introduce you to a basic chronology of western classical music.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Sessions will comprise combinations of lecture, discussion, quizzes, guided listening, video and score study.
Course materials (handouts, scores, links to online videos) will be shared via Google Classroom.
You will be encouraged to do extra reading and listening outside class.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class, links to these materials will be available online in Google Classroom after each session.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

To find out more about music history classes please visit Music history: your guide to our programme, which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.

Katy Hamilton Tutor Website

Dr Katy Hamilton is a freelance researcher, writer and presenter on music. She is fast becoming one of the UK’s most sought-after speakers on music, providing talks for a host of organisations including the Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, BBC Proms, Ryedale Festival and Oxford Lieder Festival. In addition, she regularly writes programme notes for the Salzburg Festival, North Norfolk Festival and the Philharmonia Orchestra, and is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Record Review. Katy worked as Graham Johnson’s research assistant for his monumental Franz Schubert: The Songs and their Poets (Yale University Press, 2014) and is co-editor of Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall (Cambridge University Press, 2014) and Brahms in Context (Cambridge University Press, 2019). In addition to her research and presentation work, Katy has taught at the Royal College of Music, City Lit, the University of Nottingham and Middlesex University, working with students in performance workshops and music history classes. She has been teaching Music History courses at City Lit since 2015. She is also Public Events Programmer at the Foundling Museum in central London.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.