Sir Arthur Bliss

[rojo]

SIR ARTHUR BLISS - A COLOUR SYMPHONY

ORCHESTRA: BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES
CONDUCTOR: RICHARD HICKOX

Yesterday I heard 'Purple', the first movement of Bliss`s Colour Symphony on the radio, and I really enjoyed it. Apparently Bliss was influenced by Stravinsky and Debussy, so no wonder. Here are the movement titles-

1. Purple
2. Red
3. Blue
4. Green

So I went on an Arthur Bliss music hunt. I found and listened to parts of these works-

Pastoral - for clarinet and piano
Royal Fanfares - for brass ensemble
Lady of Shallot - ballet
Introduction and Allegro - orchestral work
Things to Come - orchestral film music

Lots of good things! Anyone know/like this composer`s work(s)?

 

[Art Rock]

Yup, I have 3 CD's, plus some compositions scattered over mixed CD's. The three Bliss CD's are:

- A colour symphony/Checkmate suite (Chandos)
- Cello concerto/Music for strings/Two studies (Naxos)
- Shield of faith/Mar Portugues/Birthday song/River music/The world is changed (Chandos)

Less pastoral than most of his contemporaries - interesting composer!

 

[Art Rock]

The colour symphony is now featured in my blog, including a medium quality MP3 link to listen to it. Recommended.

 

[rojo]

Damn it, why don`t Winrar files work for me.

 

[Art Rock]

You can download the winrar programme free of charge on various sites. It is a trial version, but even after expiry, it still packs and unpacks.

 

[rojo]

Actually, I used to have it before my pc was repaired, and I couldn`t get it to work then either... I`ll have to look into it.

 

[Contratrombone64]

The colour symphony is a great work. I own a mini score of it, in particular his orchestral writting and sense of orchestration is very "impressionist" in feel (like Ravel and Debussy). I remember in 1988 the BBC National Orchestra of Wales played it in a concert as for Australia's bicentenary. I'm checkmate, however. I own about 3 different recordings of it and wish one day, that my hometown orchestra will play it (Sydney Symphony).