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Arthur Bliss was one of the most important, but somewhat overshadowed, British composers of his generation.
Born in 1891, he studied under Charles Villiers Stanford at the Royal College of Music but the First World War interrupted his studies. After returning from war service, Bliss become one of the most experimental composers of the time, his main influences being Debussy and Stravinsky. It was in this period that he composed his A Colour Smyphony (1922), probably his most popular work. It was inspired by his reading of a book about heraldry, which included information about the meanings of colours through the ages.
Throughout the 1930's and 40's he produced more significant works, particularly in the fields of film music and ballet. These included the music for the film Things to Come(1934-5), and the ballets Checkmate(1937), Miracle in the Gorbals (1944) and Adam Zero(1946). His most ambitious work, the opera The Olympians (1948-9), also dated from this period.
During the Second World War, Bliss became Director of Music at the BBC. He was knighted in 1950 and in 1953 became Master of the Queen's Musick, succeeding Arnold Bax. During the following two decades he conducted performances of his own works, both in the concert hall and the recording studio. He died in 1975.
Despite a modest revival of recordings available of Bliss' works recently, his reputation still remains in doubt. Perhaps his style, which displays elements of Romanticism, Impressionism and Modernism seems too eclectic to audiences. In his own lifetime, too, he was somewhat obscured by contemporaries like Benjamin Britten, Henri Dutilleux and Witold Lutoslawski.
But I think he was an interesting composer. I have only so far listened to the Colour Symphony and Adam Zero. I am eager to get into some of his other works, particularly his vast output of chamber music. Perhaps he lacked the facility or personality of some of this contemporaries, but his works display a keen intellect at work, as well as mastery of orchestral colour and melody.
Born in 1891, he studied under Charles Villiers Stanford at the Royal College of Music but the First World War interrupted his studies. After returning from war service, Bliss become one of the most experimental composers of the time, his main influences being Debussy and Stravinsky. It was in this period that he composed his A Colour Smyphony (1922), probably his most popular work. It was inspired by his reading of a book about heraldry, which included information about the meanings of colours through the ages.
Throughout the 1930's and 40's he produced more significant works, particularly in the fields of film music and ballet. These included the music for the film Things to Come(1934-5), and the ballets Checkmate(1937), Miracle in the Gorbals (1944) and Adam Zero(1946). His most ambitious work, the opera The Olympians (1948-9), also dated from this period.
During the Second World War, Bliss became Director of Music at the BBC. He was knighted in 1950 and in 1953 became Master of the Queen's Musick, succeeding Arnold Bax. During the following two decades he conducted performances of his own works, both in the concert hall and the recording studio. He died in 1975.
Despite a modest revival of recordings available of Bliss' works recently, his reputation still remains in doubt. Perhaps his style, which displays elements of Romanticism, Impressionism and Modernism seems too eclectic to audiences. In his own lifetime, too, he was somewhat obscured by contemporaries like Benjamin Britten, Henri Dutilleux and Witold Lutoslawski.
But I think he was an interesting composer. I have only so far listened to the Colour Symphony and Adam Zero. I am eager to get into some of his other works, particularly his vast output of chamber music. Perhaps he lacked the facility or personality of some of this contemporaries, but his works display a keen intellect at work, as well as mastery of orchestral colour and melody.
