Joseph Cox Bridge

Portrait of Joseph Cox Bridge

Joseph Cox Bridge (16 August 1853 – 29 March 1929) was an English organist, conductor, composer, musical antiquarian, and academic.

Biography

Bridge was born at Rochester, Kent, the third son of John Bridge a lay clerk at the Cathedral. He was a chorister at Rochester Cathedral (1862-1867), where he studied under John Hopkins, attending the cathedral school; became assistant organist at Manchester Cathedral (1867-1869) to his elder brother Frederick Bridge; then served as assistant organist at Rochester Cathedral (1869-1871).

Bridge attended, and was organist of Exeter College, Oxford (1871-1876); where he graduated B.A. (1875), Mus.B. (1876), M.A. (1878), and Mus.D. (1885).

In 1876 Bridge was appointed assistant organist of Chester Cathedral, and became organist of the same in 1877. There he revived the Chester Triennial Music Festival in 1879. Bridge became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1879. He founded the Chester Musical Society in 1883. He was the conductor of the Bradford Festival Choral Society (1886-1889).

Bridge was one of two sub conductors, alongside Sir George Martin, assisting his brother Sir Frederick Bridge at the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra in 1902. In 1905 he was elected a Fellow Society of Antiquaries and served on the council for two years. Bridge was an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music.[citation needed]

In 1908, he was appointed Professor of Music at Durham University. In 1911 Bridge again served as assistant conductor alongside Sir George Martin and Sir Walter Parratt, to Sir Frederic Bridge at the Coronation of George V and Mary. After retiring as cathedral organist in 1925, Bridge then became Principal of Trinity College of Music London. He was President of the Royal Musical Association, retiring from this post some six months before his death. Joseph Cox Bridge died 29 March 1929 at St Albans.

Scholarship

Bridge read history at Oxford, achieving a Bachelor of Arts as his first degree. Bridge was an early scholar of the recorder, drawing attention to the instrument with his research and lectures in the 1890s and early 1900s He composed the first twentieth-century work for the recorder in 1901, the first composition written during instrument's revival. The Yale book of quotations attributes "Love 'em and leave 'em." to Bridge's 1917 book Cheshire Proverbs.

Publications and Papers

  • A Short Sketch of the Chester Musical Festivals, 1772 to 1829 (1891). Chester: Phillipson & Golder.
  • "Recorders or Ancient Flutes" (21 February 1891). National Society of Professional Musicians, monthly meeting, Chester.
  • Three lectures on 'Music of the Past' (1892), presented at Chester, 22, 29 November and 9 December; and at Liverpool 24, 1 and 8 November December.
  • Words of the anthems in use in the Cathedral Church of Chester (1895). Chester: Phillipson & Golder.
  • "Samuel Pepys and his Musick" (24 February 1896). Chester Archaeological Society.
  • "Two Chester Madrigal Writers: Thomas Bateson and Francis Pilkington" (1897). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 6 (1), pp. 60-73.
  • "Souling Songs" (1897). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 6 (1), pp. 74-75.
  • "Notes on the "Crwth" and "Pibcorn"" (1899). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 6 (2), pp. 141-144.
  • "The Chester Recorders" (1901). Proceedings of the Musical Association 27th Session. pp. 109-120.
  • "Ludlow and the Masque of Comus" (1903). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 9, pp. 20-45.
  • "The Chester miracle plays; some facts concerning them, and the supposed authorship of Ralph Higden" (1903). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol. 9, pp. 59-98.
  • "Horns" (1905). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol.11, pp. 85-166.
  • Three Chester Whitsun Plays (1906). Chester: Phillipson & Golder.
  • "Two Cheshire Soldiers of Fortune of the XIV. Century: Sir Hugh Calveley & Sir Robert Knolles." (1908). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 14, pp. 112-232.
  • "Three Chester Whitsun Plays" (1908). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol. 14, pp. i-lxv.
  • "The diary of Nehemiah Griffith, esq, of Rhual, Mold, for the year 1715" (1909). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol. 15, pp. 22-47.
  • "The 1715 rebellion: letters from John Rutherford, esq, of Knowsouth, a Scotch prisoner of war at Liverpool, and from William Elliott, esq, relative to his release" (1909). Ed. Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol. 15, pp. 48-54.
  • "Chester Miracle Plays." (1910) Memorials of old Cheshire. London G. Allen. pp. 142-179.
  • "Some Cheshire Customs, Proverbs and Folk-lore" (1910). Memorials of old Cheshire. London G. Allen. pp. 230-263.
  • "A Great English Choir-trainer: Captain Henry Cooke" (1910). The Musical Antiquary Volume 2. pp.61-79.
  • "Mr. Pepys and his Office Boys" (1912). The Cornhill Magazine. Vol. 33, p. 77.
  • "The organists of Chester Cathedral" (1913). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series vol. 19 (2), pp. 63-124.
  • The organists of Chester Cathedral (1913). Chester: G. R. Griffith.
  • "Items of Expenditure from the 16th Century Accounts of the Painters. Glaziers, Embroiders, and Stationers' Company, with special reference to the "Shepherds' play"" (1914). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 20, pp. 153-191.
  • "A Musical Trio: Captain Cooke, Tom Edwards, and Mr. Pepys." (1917). Occasional papers read by members at meetings of the Samuel Pepys club. Vol. 1, pp. 123-129.
  • Cheshire proverbs and other sayings and rhymes (1917). Chester: Phillipson & Golder; London: Simpkin, Marshall.
  • "Kenrick Edisbury (Surveyor of the Navy, 1632-1638), and his descendants; being a brief account of the family of Edisbury of Marchwiel, Co. Denbigh" (1918). Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. New series, vol. 22, pp. 26-54.
  • "Town Waits and Their Tunes" (1927). Proceedings of the Musical Association 54th Session. pp. 63-92.
Memorial to Joseph Cox Bridge in Chester Cathedral
Memorial to Joseph Cox Bridge in Chester Cathedral

Music

The following list of Bridges' compositions and arrangements are grouped by genre or ensemble and arranged in chronological order. This list is not exhaustive

Larger works

  • Praise, a Sacred Cantata, words from Psalm 145, verse 10, etc. (1876).
  • Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, in C, for voice and orchestra (1879).
  • Symphony in F for orchestra (1894).
    1. Allegro moderato - "The Great Midsummer Fair,"
    2. Intermezzo - "Hunting Scene" (fp. "Le Gros Veneur, A Woodland Scene,")
    3. Scherzo and Trio - "The Mystery Plays,"
    4. Andante - "The River Dee,"
    5. March - "The Siege of Chester," (omitted after fp.)
    6. Allegro moderato - "The Abbey of St. Werburgh"
  • Daniel, an Oratorio (1885)
  • Rudel, a Dramatic Cantata, words by Frederic Weatherly (1891).
  • Resurgam, a Sacred Cantata for soloists (contralto and tenor), chorus and orchestra words by Gerard Moultrie (1897).
  • Requiem for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1900).

Incidental music

  • Waits' Tunes (1910), arr. for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Dramatised Scenes from "The Pilgrim's Progress," by E.A. Rudd (published in 1912)

Part-songs

  • Greek War Song, part-song for male voices, words by Byron (1877).
  • It was a lover, part-song for SATB, words by Shakespeare (1883).
  • Great Britain's Sons and Daughters, Jubilee part song for SATB, words by E. M. Southwell (1887).
  • The Curfew Bell, part song, words by Gray (1887).
  • The Steersman's Song, words by T. Moore. (1888)
  • Love, unaccompanied part-song for SATB, words by R. Jones (1904)
  • The Miller of the Dee, old ballad, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant.
  • The Miller of the Dee, old ballad, arr. for men's voices (1910)
  • The Cheshire Cheese, old song, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Come, lasses and lads, old song, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Joan to the maypole, old song, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Hobby Horse Song, old song, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Ode to the City of Chester, old song, arr. for SATB (1910), for Chester Historical Pageant

Anthems

  • O that men would praise the Lord, Anthem for Harvest Festivals (1886).
  • Be joyful in God all ye Lands, Harvest Anthem (1893).
  • Break forth into Joy, Anthem for four voices (1895)
  • Christ is risen, Easter anthem (ca.1900)
  • Supplication for His Most Gracious Majesty, the King. ed. Bridge (1902)

Christmas Carols

  1. On Christmas Night, words by Gerard Moultrie (1892).
  2. Away with Grief, words by Gerard Moultrie (1893)
  3. The Merry Christmas Morn, words by Gerard Moultrie (1894)
  4. Holy Night, words by Mary Dunlop Moultrie (1894)
  5. Awake the Voice! (S.S.A.) words by Robert Herrick (1897)
  6. Christmas in the Fields, Béarnaise Melody words adapted by Mrs. H. Sandford, (1902)
  7. When Christ was born, Chester Mystery Play (1908)
  8. Rejoice with Heart and Voice, Old French Melody, words by Robert Herrick (1910)
  9. The Shepherds' Carol, Coventry Mystery Play (1912)
  10. Lullaby, Coventry Mystery Play (1912)
  11. Across the Snow, words by Sandys Wason (1913)
  12. The Shepherds had an Angel (S.S.), words by Christina Rossetti (1916).
  13. On Bethlehem's Hill, words by K. L. Hoare (1922)

Other Choral Music

  • Canadian Sleigh Song, for SATB words by Charles Mackay (1888).
  • Soldiers of the heavenly King. Hymn, words by I. E. (1906)
  • God save the King, arr. for SATB. (1910)
  • Founders' Hymn, song (1910), written for Chester Historical Pageant
  • Chorus of Monks, chorus (1910), written for Chester Historical Pageant

Liturgical Settings

  • Te Deum Laudamus (1911)

Vocal Music

  • At the Mermaid Tavern, an album of four songs, for bass or baritone (1918).
    1. The mermaid tavern words by Keats
    2. Westward ho! words by Charles Kingsley
    3. The clear cavalier words by Samuel Butler
    4. Sir Eglamore words by anonymous

Solo and Chamber Music

Organ

  • Four select pieces arranged for the Organ (1882)
  • Original Compositions for the Organ (1886).
    1. Andante con moto in F.
    2. Finale (in the French style) in A.
    3. Andante in E flat.
    4. Quasi Pastorale in A.
    5. Andante in D.
    6. Fanfare in D.
  • Evening Hymn for organ (1895).
  • Idylle for organ (1895).
  • Overture in G major for organ (1896).
  • Song of Peace for organ (ca.1915)

Pianoforte

  • Bourrée and Gigue for pianoforte (1877)
  • Danses sclave, pianoforte duets (1886)
  • Polonaise for pianoforte (1888).
  • Dance of Mummers for pianoforte (1888).
  • Bourrée and Gigue in the old style for pianoforte (1889)

Other

  • String Quartet "Che tara tara" (1879).
  • Sonata for violoncello and piano (1883).
    1. Allegro Moderato
    2. Andante con Moto
    3. Scherzo and Trio
    4. Allegro
  • Quartet for Recorders (1901).

Operetta

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Boase, Charles William; Oxford Historical Society (Oxford, England) n 80118360 (1894). Register of the rectors, fellows, and other members on the foundation of Exeter College, Oxford, with a history of the College and illustrative documents. Wellcome Library. Oxford : Printed for the Oxford Historical Society at the Clarendon Press. p. 243.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  2. 1 2 Strike, James (June 2020). "ORGANISTS and DIRECTORS of MUSIC at ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL" (PDF). ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL OLD CHORISTERS’ ASSOCIATION. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Obituary: William Makepeace". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 37 (644): 686–686. 1896. ISSN 0958-8434.
  4. ↑ "Past Organists and Organ Scholars". Exeter College. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Slonimsky, Nicolas (1971). Baker's biographical dictionary of musicians. Internet Archive. New York : G. Schirmer. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-911320-62-6.
  6. ↑ "A NOTED MUSICIAN : Centenary of the birth of Dr. J. C. Bridge". Cheshire Observer. 22 August 1953. p. 12. Retrieved 8 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ↑ Baker, Theodore (1940). Biographical dictionary of musicians. Wellesley College Library. New York, G. Schirmer, inc. p. 152.
  8. ↑ Sewell, G. F. (1907). A history of the Bradford Festival Choral Society. Bradford: G. F. Sewell. pp. 159–160.
  9. ↑ "The Coronation of King Edward the Seventh and Queen Alexandra in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Westminster, August 9, 1902". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 43 (715): 577–586. 1902. doi:10.2307/3369739. ISSN 0958-8434.
  10. ↑ The Antiquaries Journal 1929-07: Vol 9 Iss 3. Internet Archive. Cambridge University Press. July 1929. pp. 300–1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ↑ "[No title]|1908-03-19|The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria - Welsh Newspapers". newspapers.library.wales. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "The Coronation of King George the Fifth and Queen Mary in Westminster Abbey, June 22, 1911". The Musical Times. 52 (821): 433–437. 1911. doi:10.2307/907261. ISSN 0027-4666.
  13. ↑ "Trinity College of Music". The Musical Times. 66 (984): 161–161. 1925. ISSN 0027-4666.
  14. ↑ "The Musical Association. Report". Proceedings of the Musical Association. 56: xxi–xxv. 1929. ISSN 0958-8442.
  15. ↑ "Obituary: Joseph Cox Bridge". The Musical Times. 70 (1035): 463–463. 1929. ISSN 0027-4666.
  16. ↑ MacMillan, Douglas (2005). The Recorder 1800-1905. Guildford: University of Surrey. p. 25.
  17. ↑ Lander, Nicholas S. "Modern period". Recorder Home Page. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Cheek, Joshua (2015). "UK DK". OUR Recordings. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  19. ↑ MacMillan, Douglas (2005). The Recorder 1800-1905. Guildford: University of Surrey. p. 71.
  20. ↑ Shapiro, Fred R.; Henderson, John R. (2006). The Yale book of quotations. Internet Archive. New Haven : Yale University Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-300-10798-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  21. ↑ "Music in Liverpool and District". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 32 (577): 165–166. 1891. ISSN 0958-8434.
  22. ↑ "Public Announcements". Chester Courant. 9 November 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ↑ "Library, Museum, and Arts Committee". Liverpool Daily Post. 15 November 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ↑ Chester Archaeological Society (1897). "1896, REPORT OF THE COUNCIL: ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Robarts - University of Toronto. Chester: G. R. Griffith. p. 126.
  25. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1897). "Two Chester Madrigal Writers : Thomas Bateson and Francis Pilkington". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Chester : G. R. Griffith.
  26. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1897). "Souling Songs". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Chester : G. R. Griffith. pp. 74–75.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "journal contents" (PDF). Chester Archaeological Society. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1901). "The Chester Recorders". Proceedings of the Musical Association. Vol. 27. London : Novello & Co. pp. 109–120.
  29. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1906). Three Chester Whitsun plays. University of California Libraries. Chester : Phillipson and Golder.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  30. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1908). "Two Cheshire Soldiers of Fortune of the XIV. Century : Sir Hugh Calveley & Sir Robert Knolles.". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Vol. 14. University of California Libraries. Chester: Phillipson and Golder. pp. 112–232.
  31. 1 2 Barber, Edward; Ditchfield, Peter Hampson, eds. (1910). Memorials of old Cheshire. Robarts - University of Toronto. London G. Allen.
  32. ↑ Bridge, Joseph C. (1910). "A Great English Choir-trainer : Captain Henry Cooke". The Musical Antiquary Volume 2. Internet Archive (Republished 1968, 1970, 1982 ed.). Gregg Revivals. pp. 61–79. ISBN 978-0-576-28036-5. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  33. ↑ Bridge, Joseph C. (1914). "Items of Expenditure from the 16th Century Accounts of the Painters. Glaziers, Embroiders, and Stationers' Company, with special reference to the "Shepherds' play"". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society. Vol. 20. Chester: G. R. Griffith. pp. 153–191.
  34. ↑ Bridge, Joseph Cox (1917). "A Musical Trio : Captain Cooke, Tom Edwards, and Mr. Pepys". Occasional papers read by members at meetings of the Samuel Pepys club. Vol. 1. London: Printed for the club at the Chiswick Press. pp. 123–129.
  35. ↑ Bridge, Joseph C. (19 January 1915). "Kenrick Edisbury (Surveyor of the Navy, 1632-1638), and his descendants: being a brief account of the family of Edisbury of Marchwiel co. Denbigh". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society (22 ed.). Chester: G. R. Griffith Limited. pp. 26–54. {{cite book}}: More than one of |publication-date= and |date= specified (help)
  36. ↑ Bridge, Joseph C. (1927). "Town Waits and Their Tunes". Proceedings of the Musical Association. 54: 63–92. ISSN 0958-8442.
  37. ↑ "Collection: Cantata ('Praise'), music by Joseph Cox Bridge | Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts". archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Review of Magnificat and Nunc dimittis. Set to Music in the Key of C". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 20 (439): 487–487. 1879. doi:10.2307/3356676. ISSN 0958-8434.
  39. ↑ "A Chester Symphony". Cheshire Observer. 3 August 1957. p. 14. Retrieved 8 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. ↑ "Huddersfield Subscription Concerts". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 15 February 1896. p. 13. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ↑ "Bradford Subscription Concerts". Leeds Mercury. 12 January 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 12 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ↑ The Lute 1891-11-01: Vol 7 Iss 107. Internet Archive. Open Court Publishing Co. 1 November 1891. p. 179.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  43. ↑ "Dr. Bridge's New Cantata". Chester Chronicle. 31 July 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ↑ "Review of Requiem. For Soli, Chorus, and Orchestra". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 41 (689): 473–474. 1900. doi:10.2307/3367486. ISSN 0958-8434.
  45. 1 2 Bartie, Angela; Fleming, Linda; Freeman, Mark; Hulme, Tom; Hutton, Alex; Readman, Paul. "Chester Historical Pageant". The Redress of the Past. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  46. ↑ "Review of Greek War Song. Unaccompanied Part-Song for Male Voices". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 19 (426): 453–453. 1878. doi:10.2307/3358721. ISSN 0958-8434.
  47. ↑ "Review of It Was a Lover. Part-Song for S. A. T. B., Shakespeare". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 25 (494): 226–226. 1884. doi:10.2307/3359287. ISSN 0958-8434.
  48. ↑ "Back Matter". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 28 (530): 245–256. 1887. ISSN 0958-8434.
  49. ↑ "Review of O That Men Would Praise the Lord. Anthem for Harvest Festivals". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 27 (522): 486–486. 1886. doi:10.2307/3363898. ISSN 0958-8434.
  50. ↑ "Back Matter". The Musical Times. 65 (982): 1137. 1924. ISSN 0027-4666.
  51. ↑ Hutchins, Charles L. (1916). Carols old and carols new : for use at Christmas and other seasons of the Christian year. Princeton Theological Seminary Library. Boston : The Parish Choir.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  52. ↑ The Musical Times 1919-11-01: Vol 60 Iss 921. Internet Archive. Musical Times Publications, Ltd. 1 November 1919. p. 639.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  53. ↑ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1918). Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1918 Music Last Half of 1918 New Series Vol 13 Part 2. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
  54. ↑ "Back Matter". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 27 (517): 172. 1886. ISSN 0958-8434.
  55. ↑ "Evening Hymn (Bridge, Joseph Cox) - IMSLP". imslp.org. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  56. ↑ "Idylle (Bridge, Joseph Cox) - IMSLP". imslp.org. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  57. ↑ "Review of Original Compositions and Arrangements for the Organ". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 37 (645): 744–744. 1896. doi:10.2307/3367993. ISSN 0958-8434.
  58. 1 2 "Review of Dance of Mummers; And Polonaise". The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. 29 (541): 174–174. 1888. doi:10.2307/3360404. ISSN 0958-8434.
  59. ↑ The Musical World 1879-04-05: Vol 57 Iss 14. Internet Archive. Open Court Publishing Co. 5 April 1879. p. 215.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  60. ↑ "Chester Orchestral Society". Runcorn Guardian. 14 April 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 17 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  61. ↑ "Chester Orchestral Society". Chester Chronicle. 21 April 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 17 July 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  62. ↑ Lander, Nicholas S. "Repertoire". Recorder Home Page. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  63. ↑ "Provincial : Birmingham, January 13.". The Musical World : Vol. 70, Iss. 3. Internet Archive. Open Court Publishing Co. 18 January 1890. p. 57.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

References