Arthur Bliss 1891 - 1975

Arthur Bliss, a British-trained composer, first attracted notoriety shortly after returning from the First World War, with works that showed influence of Stravinsky and 'Les Six'. In the 1920s, however, his style broadened into a more Elgarian vein, and it was such works as A Colour Symphony which established him as a major figure. "If I were to define my musical goal, it would be to try for an emotion truly and clearly felt, and caught forever in a formal perfection." — Sir Arthur Bliss

In 1935 he composed the first great film score for Korda's version of H.G.Wells's 'Things to Come' - a benchmark for future composers - and during the Second World War he was Director of Music at the BBC where he laid the foundations for the future Third Programme and Radio 3. Bliss continued to compose many popular works for chorus and for brass band, and was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 1953.

Works by Bliss include:
Conquest of the Air: Concert Suite (1937) for orchestra
Seven American Poems (1940) for low voice and piano

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