Sir Arthur Bliss

[relm1]

Those of you in London might enjoy this concert including Bliss' Things to Come.

https://www.lso.co.uk/whats-on/lights-camera-action-the-lso-on-film/

[Symphonic Addict]

Due for release on August 9th.

Content:

Welcome the Queen, F 95
Kenilworth, F 13
Suite from Adam Zero, F 1
Things to Come, F 131
The Belmont Variations, F 10
Music from The Royal Palaces, F 128
Four Dances from Checkmate, F 2

[Symphonic Addict]

A new recording of his Cello Concerto. To be released on 25 July:

[Roasted Swan]

A new recording of his Cello Concerto. To be released on 25 July:

Any coupling or is this a digital release of the concerto only?

[kyjo]

A new recording of his Cello Concerto. To be released on 25 July:

Very nice! I had the privelege of studying with Guy Johnston for two semesters a few years ago. At the moment, the Cello Concerto is hardly one of my favorite of Bliss' works - it feels a bit lacking in personality and memorability compared to his earlier works - but perhaps Mr. Johnston will change my view!

[vandermolen]

A new recording of his Cello Concerto. To be released on 25 July:

Love the cover art. What else is on the CD? Unless it's download only.

[Symphonic Addict]

Only the Cello Concerto is mentioned and for download on the release date:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9785881--bliss-cello-concerto-f-120

[Roasted Swan]

Only the Cello Concerto is mentioned and for download on the release date:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9785881--bliss-cello-concerto-f-120

thanks - nearly £9 for a 24 minute MP3 release is crazy - I love the piece but won't be buying this at that price!

[Irons]

Very nice! I had the privelege of studying with Guy Johnston for two semesters a few years ago. At the moment, the Cello Concerto is hardly one of my favorite of Bliss' works - it feels a bit lacking in personality and memorability compared to his earlier works - but perhaps Mr. Johnston will change my view!

The Cello Concerto when heard in the context of the death of his brother in WWI is one of his most important works if not most impressive.

[Symphonic Addict]

thanks - nearly £9 for a 24 minute MP3 release is crazy - I love the piece but won't be buying this at that price!

Why to buy then when you can stream? 

[Roasted Swan]

Why to buy then when you can stream? 

In this instance you are absolutely right!

[kyjo]

The Cello Concerto when heard in the context of the death of his brother in WWI is one of his most important works if not most impressive.

Are you sure there's a connection between the Cello Concerto and the the death of his brother in WWI? The concerto was written in 1970 and, to my ears, doesn't contain much music of heartfelt poignancy. However, I am quite positive that his choral symphony Morning Heroes was directly inspired by the events of WWI.

[kyjo]

The other day I heard for the first time the rendition of A Colour Symphony by the RPO under Sir Charles Groves and it gave me a newfound appreciation and enjoyment of the work:



(BTW for Spotify users, this recording can be found in a large compilation entitled "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - British Composers". It's also on YouTube.)

Groves and the musicians of the RPO, particularly the principal wind and brass players, give this music so much character and bring out Bliss' wonderfully "crunchy" harmonies without crudeness. The other available recordings of this symphony are quite good, but this one surpasses them to my ears. This work strikes me as the sort of thing Elgar might have written had he allowed himself to become influenced by more modern trends in the last 15 or so years of his life. There's a wonderful nobilmente to Bliss' writing which is often garnished by spiky rhythms and "wrong-note" harmonic side-steps. This is an element of his music that I find so appealing, rewarding, and satisfying. It's not often that I find myself whistling the tunes after listening to a piece of his, but the skill and imagination with which he develops his material more than compensates for this. A very fine and consistent composer in my view.

[Roasted Swan]

The other day I heard for the first time the rendition of A Colour Symphony by the RPO under Sir Charles Groves and it gave me a newfound appreciation and enjoyment of the work:



(BTW for Spotify users, this recording can be found in a large compilation entitled "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - British Composers". It's also on YouTube.)

Groves and the musicians of the RPO, particularly the principal wind and brass players, give this music so much character and bring out Bliss' wonderfully "crunchy" harmonies without crudeness. The other available recordings of this symphony are quite good, but this one surpasses them to my ears. This work strikes me as the sort of thing Elgar might have written had he allowed himself to become influenced by more modern trends in the last 15 or so years of his life. There's a wonderful nobilmente to Bliss' writing which is often garnished by spiky rhythms and "wrong-note" harmonic side-steps. This is an element of his music that I find so appealing, rewarding, and satisfying. It's not often that I find myself whistling the tunes after listening to a piece of his, but the skill and imagination with which he develops his material more than compensates for this. A very fine and consistent composer in my view.

Absolutely agree with all you write.  A few additional comments - the original release of this version of the Colour Symphony coupled it with Groves/RPO doing a superb suite from "Things to Come" - with one of the best (corniest!!) modulations right at the end of the "Epilogue" underpinned by an epic organ.  This performance benefits from the exact playing and recording qualities you mention in the symphony.  The CD here though includes Berglund's brilliant suite from "Miracle in the Gorbals" which has never been bettered - I'd love to play let alone see it danced.

Regarding the Symphony - Bliss dedicated it to Elgar who was flattered by the dedication but confused by the work (and specifically the harmonies.....).

[arpeggio]

The other day I heard for the first time the rendition of A Colour Symphony by the RPO under Sir Charles Groves and it gave me a newfound appreciation and enjoyment of the work:



(BTW for Spotify users, this recording can be found in a large compilation entitled "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - British Composers". It's also on YouTube.)

Groves and the musicians of the RPO, particularly the principal wind and brass players, give this music so much character and bring out Bliss' wonderfully "crunchy" harmonies without crudeness. The other available recordings of this symphony are quite good, but this one surpasses them to my ears. This work strikes me as the sort of thing Elgar might have written had he allowed himself to become influenced by more modern trends in the last 15 or so years of his life. There's a wonderful nobilmente to Bliss' writing which is often garnished by spiky rhythms and "wrong-note" harmonic side-steps. This is an element of his music that I find so appealing, rewarding, and satisfying. It's not often that I find myself whistling the tunes after listening to a piece of his, but the skill and imagination with which he develops his material more than compensates for this. A very fine and consistent composer in my view.

This is an example of how one's ears mature.

When I was a teenager, I discovered the A Colour Symphony. It was very boring

When I was in my fifties, I purchased the above CD.  My fifty-year-old ears really connected with the work.  I wondered what was wrong with my seventeen-year-old ears.

[vandermolen]

This is an example of how one's ears mature.

When I was a teenager, I discovered the A Colour Symphony. It was very boring

When I was in my fifties, I purchased the above CD.  My fifty-year-old ears really connected with the work.  I wondered what was wrong with my seventeen-year-old ears.

It's also, I think, to be found in the Sir Charles Groves box set.

[Irons]

Are you sure there's a connection between the Cello Concerto and the the death of his brother in WWI? The concerto was written in 1970 and, to my ears, doesn't contain much music of heartfelt poignancy. However, I am quite positive that his choral symphony Morning Heroes was directly inspired by the events of WWI.

No, I'm not sure so I thought I had better listen - Arto Noras/Berglund for memory refreshment! Although a Rostropovich dedication, Arthur's other brother Howard Bliss was a cellist. Kennard, who perished at the Somme, must have entered his mind when composing. I find the 'joyous' opening purposely false, laughing through gritted teeth. After a march section the mask slips and I do find the end of the movement contains "heartfelt poignancy". To call the second movement a lament, although I do, is for a cello concerto too easy as it is the nature of the beast, but I don't need to tell you that. Although with a military style percussion opening, which is to be repeated, I admit not a lot in the finale to back up my view.
May be claptrap, but doesn't really matter as we all subjectively hear music differently and even if Kennard was the last thing on his mind, I'm sure Bliss would not mind if I think of his brother when listening to the work. Which incidentally I like a lot.   

[kyjo]

This is an example of how one's ears mature.

When I was a teenager, I discovered the A Colour Symphony. It was very boring

When I was in my fifties, I purchased the above CD.  My fifty-year-old ears really connected with the work.  I wondered what was wrong with my seventeen-year-old ears.

Indeed, it's always interesting to see how our tastes/perceptions change with regards to certain composers/works. I recall the first time I heard A Colour Symphony I was also rather unengaged by it, but that could've had to do with the recording I listened to (I think it was the Lloyd-Jones on Naxos).

[kyjo]

It's also, I think, to be found in the Sir Charles Groves box set.

...which is - maddeningly - completely out of print and the only used copy is a mere $538 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/British-Music-Sir-Charles-Groves/dp/B00T8RIN82/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4HYTTE7CVKOY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H43cEP0adrQhFSk8_i2ytsrLFqa9xAmLMSOyy1km6HNVuZVzQ5G3lXEs2W3UzHIB.pHQsUMJawCU4ACinM_6Gtg-i_CDe4Hwy4p6tJiHuBbc&dib_tag=se&keywords=groves+british+music&qid=1752182058&s=music&sprefix=groves+british+music%2Cpopular%2C80&sr=1-1

And the individual releases contained in this set aren't exactly easy to locate, either. Meanwhile, I'm sure Warner has kept other performer/conductor boxes containing much more standard repertoire well in print...

[kyjo]

No, I'm not sure so I thought I had better listen - Arto Noras/Berglund for memory refreshment! Although a Rostropovich dedication, Arthur's other brother Howard Bliss was a cellist. Kennard, who perished at the Somme, must have entered his mind when composing. I find the 'joyous' opening purposely false, laughing through gritted teeth. After a march section the mask slips and I do find the end of the movement contains "heartfelt poignancy". To call the second movement a lament, although I do, is for a cello concerto too easy as it is the nature of the beast, but I don't need to tell you that. Although with a military style percussion opening, which is to be repeated, I admit not a lot in the finale to back up my view.
May be claptrap, but doesn't really matter as we all subjectively hear music differently and even if Kennard was the last thing on his mind, I'm sure Bliss would not mind if I think of his brother when listening to the work. Which incidentally I like a lot.   

Thanks for sharing your impressions, Irons, and I apologize if my reply to your previous post came off as rather "snooty". I look forward to revisiting the Cello Concerto soon with fresh ears!