Sir Arthur Bliss

[vandermolen]

A humorous titbit, I thought.

http://landofllostcontent.blogspot.com/2022/10/gerald-cumberland-on-arthur-bliss.html

V good Lol!

My uncle who worked for the PRS when Bliss was their President had his own anecdote.
He was standing next to Bliss in a urinal one day.

My uncle: 'May I have your autograph please Sir Arthur?'

Sir Arthur: 'Yes, old boy, as soon as I get my hands free!'

[relm1]

V good Lol!

My uncle who worked for the PRS when Bliss was their President had his own anecdote.
He was standing next to Bliss in a urinal one day.

My uncle: 'May I have your autograph please Sir Arthur?'

Sir Arthur: 'Yes, old boy, as soon as I get my hands free!'

  Very English.  Almost reminds me of a Monty Python parody of Englishness like the boarding school sex lesson from The Meaning of Life.

[vandermolen]

  Very English.  Almost reminds me of a Monty Python parody of Englishness like the boarding school sex lesson from The Meaning of Life.

I'll have to look that one up!

[Irons]

V good Lol!

My uncle who worked for the PRS when Bliss was their President had his own anecdote.
He was standing next to Bliss in a urinal one day.

My uncle: 'May I have your autograph please Sir Arthur?'

Sir Arthur: 'Yes, old boy, as soon as I get my hands free!'

As long as Sir Arthur didn't turn to face your uncle as he said it!

[vandermolen]

As long as Sir Arthur didn't turn to face your uncle as he said it!

Indeed! 

[relm1]

I'll have to look that one up!

Oh, you have to see all their films!  The whole film is a gem.

[vandermolen]

Oh, you have to see all their films!  The whole film is a gem.

OT

I will do, although I wasn't such a big fan of MP which I found rather hit and miss. Some scenes were classic though ('is this the room for an argument?') Karl Marx, Lenin and Che Guevara on a TV quiz programme ('this beautiful lounge suite could be yours') etc.

[relm1]

OT

I will do, although I wasn't such a big fan of MP which I found rather hit and miss. Some scenes were classic though ('is this the room for an argument?') Karl Marx, Lenin and Che Guevara on a TV quiz programme ('this beautiful lounge suite could be yours') etc.

My intro was through the films which are so good that decades after first seeing them, I discover brand new jokes that I never noticed before.  One simple example, the opening title credits of Holy Grail.  I loved the joke of the people keep getting sacked but only recently read the subtitles which was a running joke throughout the film...the end credits reference the joke.  That sort of multilayered buffoonery that is very satisfying to realize.  I've never seen the TV show, just a handful of the famous skits so could understand it's a bit hit or miss.

[Irons]

Not too many recordings of the Bliss Violin Concerto which is odd. I wonder if difficulty in playing is the reason? Campoli was a marvellous soloist, it is said that he didn't receive credit due because he also performed popular repertoire and not taken as seriously as he deserved . He made superb recordings of the Beethoven and Elgar concertos but the one he is most remembered for is the Bliss.

   

[vandermolen]

Not too many recordings of the Bliss Violin Concerto which is odd. I wonder if difficulty in playing is the reason? Campoli was a marvellous soloist, it is said that he didn't receive credit due because he also performed popular repertoire and not taken as seriously as he deserved . He made superb recordings of the Beethoven and Elgar concertos but the one he is most remembered for is the Bliss.

   

It's a great performance Lol. Recently reissued here:

[Irons]

It's a great performance Lol. Recently reissued here:

I have that double CD, Jeffrey. I avoid making comments comparing formats if I can help it. Often I enjoy CD over LP, not in this case though.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Not too many recordings of the Bliss Violin Concerto which is odd. I wonder if difficulty in playing is the reason? Campoli was a marvellous soloist, it is said that he didn't receive credit due because he also performed popular repertoire and not taken as seriously as he deserved . He made superb recordings of the Beethoven and Elgar concertos but the one he is most remembered for is the Bliss.

   

Thank you so much for mentioning this LP on the vinyl thread.  I listened to it on youtube and loved it!  Electrifying at times. 

PD

[vandermolen]

I have that double CD, Jeffrey. I avoid making comments comparing formats if I can help it. Often I enjoy CD over LP, not in this case though.

I had the same experience listening to Hanson's 'Sinfonia Sacra' on LP this morning. I was much more engaged that when listening to Pristine Audio's CD transfer of the same performance.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I had the same experience listening to Hanson's 'Sinfonia Sacra' on LP this morning. I was much more engaged that when listening to Pristine Audio's CD transfer of the same performance.

Jeffrey,

You realize now that you must get rid of all of your CDs.  I'd be willing to take them--if asked nicely. 

PD

[Roasted Swan]

Jeffrey,

You realize now that you must get rid of all of your CDs.  I'd be willing to take them--if asked nicely. 

PD

PD - you are ALL heart!!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

PD - you are ALL heart!!

 

PD

[Irons]

I had the same experience listening to Hanson's 'Sinfonia Sacra' on LP this morning. I was much more engaged that when listening to Pristine Audio's CD transfer of the same performance.

I went through a long period after dumping my player of completely withdrawing from the world of CD. My listening was 100% LP. Then made an error of getting caught up with GMG!  I discovered and continual to discover swathes of music by composers I never heard of only available on silver disc. A voyage of discovery.
But for serious listening I am always more engaged with music on vinyl. The Bliss concerto is a good example. Nothing wrong with the CD transfer, it can be enjoyed but it does not grab my attention like the humble Ace of Clubs LP.

You mention Pristine Audio, Jeffrey. Andrew Rose is a bit of a knob twiddler (pardon the expression). He sometimes overreaches himself "improving" historical recordings. A few years ago there was a bust-up between him and the guy at Music Parlour over this. 

[vandermolen]

I went through a long period after dumping my player of completely withdrawing from the world of CD. My listening was 100% LP. Then made an error of getting caught up with GMG!  I discovered and continual to discover swathes of music by composers I never heard of only available on silver disc. A voyage of discovery.
But for serious listening I am always more engaged with music on vinyl. The Bliss concerto is a good example. Nothing wrong with the CD transfer, it can be enjoyed but it does not grab my attention like the humble Ace of Clubs LP.

You mention Pristine Audio, Jeffrey. Andrew Rose is a bit of a knob twiddler (pardon the expression). He sometimes overreaches himself "improving" historical recordings. A few years ago there was a bust-up between him and the guy at Music Parlour over this.

I remember that 'bust up' Lol. Andrew R never replies to any messages in my experience.

[Roasted Swan]

I went through a long period after dumping my player of completely withdrawing from the world of CD. My listening was 100% LP. Then made an error of getting caught up with GMG!  I discovered and continual to discover swathes of music by composers I never heard of only available on silver disc. A voyage of discovery.
But for serious listening I am always more engaged with music on vinyl. The Bliss concerto is a good example. Nothing wrong with the CD transfer, it can be enjoyed but it does not grab my attention like the humble Ace of Clubs LP.

You mention Pristine Audio, Jeffrey. Andrew Rose is a bit of a knob twiddler (pardon the expression). He sometimes overreaches himself "improving" historical recordings. A few years ago there was a bust-up between him and the guy at Music Parlour over this.

The recent Pristine remastering of the famous Decca/Boult RVW cycle has received universal(?) praise but I must admit I have avoided it precisely because - correct me if I am wrong - part of the "twiddling" process has been to create a kind of faux-stereo.  Given that the original sessions were over-seen (technically) by John Culshaw and Kenneth Wilkinson I am happy to trust those two titans-in-their-fields rather than think this new 'stereo' is 'better'.  I have the old Decca remastered box from 2002 which includes the Everest/Stereo/No.9 so I'm happy to save some money and avoid these new remasterings.  Am I missing something special??

[vandermolen]

The recent Pristine remastering of the famous Decca/Boult RVW cycle has received universal(?) praise but I must admit I have avoided it precisely because - correct me if I am wrong - part of the "twiddling" process has been to create a kind of faux-stereo.  Given that the original sessions were over-seen (technically) by John Culshaw and Kenneth Wilkinson I am happy to trust those two titans-in-their-fields rather than think this new 'stereo' is 'better'.  I have the old Decca remastered box from 2002 which includes the Everest/Stereo/No.9 so I'm happy to save some money and avoid these new remasterings.  Am I missing something special??

No, I don't think so. I bought two of the Pristine releases (A Sea Symphony and Nos. 6 and 9) and I found the sound a bit shrill compared with the earlier Decca box. The Epilogue of No.6 is much louder, which means that you can hear much more orchestral detail but, paradoxically, I find it less bleakly atmospheric than on my old Decca Eclipse LP (having said that, when I first played the LP in c.1971 I thought that there was something wrong with the LP as the last movement was so recessed). I also bought the Pristine CD of Goossens's recording of the 1920 version of A London Symphony which I look forward to hearing.