Arthur Bliss (Composer)

Born: 2nd August 1891, Barnes, London, England

Died: 27th March 1975, London, England

Nationality: English

Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss was an English composer and conductor.

Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army. In the post-war years he quickly became known as an unconventional and modernist composer, but within the decade he began to display a more traditional and romantic side in his music. In the 1920s and 1930s he composed extensively not only for the concert hall, but also for films and ballet.

In the Second World War, Bliss returned to England from the US to work for the BBC and became its director of music.

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Recording of the Week, John Wilson conducts English music for strings

29th January 2021

Sinfonia of London and conductor John Wilson present their latest stunning album of music for string orchestra by Britten, Bridge, Berkeley, and Bliss.

Recording of the Week, Bliss from Sarah Connolly, Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra

8th November 2019

Davis continues his advocacy for the English composer with three relatively late works - the dramatic scena The Enchantress (written for Kathleen Ferrier), the Meditations on a Theme by John Blow, and the 1963 cantata Mary of Magdala.

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