Bridge studied at the RAM and later became known as an excellent conductor and chamber musician. His impeccable musicianship allowed him to undertake the most difficult material on short notice. His early works, mostly chamber works and songs, were influenced by Bax and Delius. These compositions are rather conservative although masterful in the use of traditional techniques. Bridge experienced an emotional crisis during WWI, due in part to his pacifist beliefs. The disturbing experiences of the war led him to abandon his need to write within conventional bounderies and explore new compositional territory. While he did not sever all ties to the past, Bridge did begin to embrace bi-tonality and a more radical harmonic structure. He also began to employ a new flexibility of rhythm and form that allows for free compositional development with little or no repetition. His later orchestral works were recognized for their contrapuntal energy. These include the rhapsody Enter Spring (1927) and Phantasm (1931) for solo piano. In spite of the fact that Bridge was a fine technician with great poetic insight, his works have not been frequently performed since his death. ~ Lynn Vought, Rovi