Sir Arthur Bliss

[Roasted Swan]

Seconded. The Enchantress is a pleasant but unremarkable piece. This is the Handley CS that I was referring to as the "next best" recording of the piece.

Never got to hear "Morning Heroes", Bliss' large-scale oratorio/choral symphony which he wrote to cope with the death of his brother - as the Wigglesworth CD (was it Wigglesworth?) went out of print before I could get hold of it. Also, the EMI British Composers version is long gone.

No not Wigglesworth you mean Kibblewhite - a decent performance musically, harmed by Brian Blessed's histrionic narration.  2nd hand copies of the Groves/EMI version (THE version still) coupled with a good Britten War Requiem from Rattle are readily available...... currently a copy of the 2 disc set on Amazon for £1.46 + p&p (UK Amazon)

[Albion]

Don't miss out on "The Beatitudes", a lovely work which was scheduled for the new Coventry Cathedral in 1961 but was elbowed out by Britten's "War Requiem" and relegated to the local Belgrade Theatre with a crap electronic organ. Luckily there are fine recordings under Bliss at the Proms in 1964 (Lyrita) and most recently under Andrew Davis (Chandos). I've also got broadcasts by David Willcocks (1991) and Paul Daniel (2012) and it, like many of Bliss' major scores deserves attention and repetition...

[Roasted Swan]

Don't miss out on "The Beatitudes", a lovely work which was scheduled for the new Coventry Cathedral in 1961 but was elbowed out by Britten's "War Requiem" and relegated to the local Belgrade Theatre with a crap electronic organ. Luckily there are fine recordings under Bliss at the Proms in 1964 (Lyrita) and most recently under Andrew Davis (Chandos). I've also got broadcasts by David Willcocks (1991) and Paul Daniel (2012) and it, like many of Bliss' major scores deserves attention and repetition...

I don't know the Willcocks performance but Daniels is special as it is from Coventry Cathedral with the work heard as originally intended.

[JBS]

If you can raise three million pounds, you can buy Bliss's house
https://www.themodernhouse.com/sales-list/coombe-street/

Plenty of photos to scroll through, although I assume the furnishings belong to the current owner and have nothing to do with Bliss.

[Albion]

If you can raise three million pounds, you can buy Bliss's house
https://www.themodernhouse.com/sales-list/coombe-street/

Plenty of photos to scroll through, although I assume the furnishings belong to the current owner and have nothing to do with Bliss.

Bloody Nora! I've popped an offer in, since my priceless collection of empty beer cans and vodka bottles should easily cover the cost...

[Roasted Swan]

Goodness me - that looks pretty stunning and I like the way the current owners have got modern/retro furnishings in there too.   If I had the odd £3 mill I'd be sorely tempted.  After all with 25 acres and a studio to composer in perhaps I could rustle up the odd tune or two as well.....?

I'd seen some pictures from not so long ago which made it look as if the 1930's concrete/metal construction wasn't aging well so I wonder if the current owners have spent quite a lot on restoration - if so good luck to them!  All those pesky steel windows and single glazing - chilly!!!!

[Albion]

Goodness me - that looks pretty stunning and I like the way the current owners have got modern/retro furnishings in there too.   If I had the odd £3 mill I'd be sorely tempted.  After all with 25 acres and a studio to composer in perhaps I could rustle up the odd tune or two as well.....?

I'd seen some pictures from not so long ago which made it look as if the 1930's concrete/metal construction wasn't aging well so I wonder if the current owners have spent quite a lot on restoration - if so good luck to them!  All those pesky steel windows and single glazing - chilly!!!!

Yep, I'll be installing the uPVC and Artexing the ceilings, I think some woodchip wallpaper would look rather jolly although I might stretch to flock. I'll also sell off most of the grounds for housing development including a local off-licence and a corner shop - our heritage is in safe hands...

 

[Roasted Swan]

Yep, I'll be installing the uPVC and Artexing the ceilings, I think some woodchip wallpaper would look rather jolly although I might stretch to flock. I'll also sell off most of the grounds for housing development including a local off-licence and a corner shop - our heritage is in safe hands...

 

While you are about it perhaps pebble-dash the outside - all that bare concrete is SO impersonal.......

[Albion]

While you are about it perhaps pebble-dash the outside - all that bare concrete is SO impersonal.......

Great idea! Or possibly some stone cladding. Development schemes are already under way to turn the redundant music room into a massage parlour and the cottage into a Chinese Takeaway...

[Roasted Swan]

Great idea! Or possibly some stone cladding. Development schemes are already under way to turn the redundant music room into a massage parlour and the cottage into a Chinese Takeaway...

straight from the massage parlour to a portion of sweet and sour pork balls.... pure bliss.........

[vandermolen]

If you can raise three million pounds, you can buy Bliss's house
https://www.themodernhouse.com/sales-list/coombe-street/

Plenty of photos to scroll through, although I assume the furnishings belong to the current owner and have nothing to do with Bliss.

How interesting! If I had a spare £3.000.000 I'd like to move in. It clearly shows the influence of the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and it's woodland setting reminds me of the Villa Mairea by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. I like the detail about the clothes pegs for the school children! Thanks for posting this.

[Albion]

straight from the massage parlour to a portion of sweet and sour pork balls.... pure bliss.........

 

...and with an off-licence round the corner, so that punters can stumble around inebriated and randomly wander off never to be seen again. The remaining grounds that haven't been sold off are already being concreted over to form a huge coach park as business is anticipated to be quite brisk.

[kyjo]

Lately I was listening to Bliss' PC in this excellent recording:



The 1st movement is absolutely one of the finest things Bliss ever wrote - full of memorable themes, dynamism, swagger, and (dare I say it?) sheer testosterone! There's a particularly exciting cadenza, near the end of which the timpani comes thundering in - a great moment! Perhaps the other two movements aren't on the same high level of inspiration, but that 1st movement is a hard act to follow! The finale ends with a big, triumphant coda in the grand Romantic fashion. I would rank it as overall the strongest of Bliss' concerti, though the others have their merits as well (especially the VC in the Campoli recording).

[relm1]

Have any of us heard Things to Come live with orchestra?  I didn't even know this existed.

[vandermolen]

Lately I was listening to Bliss' PC in this excellent recording:



The 1st movement is absolutely one of the finest things Bliss ever wrote - full of memorable themes, dynamism, swagger, and (dare I say it?) sheer testosterone! There's a particularly exciting cadenza, near the end of which the timpani comes thundering in - a great moment! Perhaps the other two movements aren't on the same high level of inspiration, but that 1st movement is a hard act to follow! The finale ends with a big, triumphant coda in the grand Romantic fashion. I would rank it as overall the strongest of Bliss' concerti, though the others have their merits as well (especially the VC in the Campoli recording).

The climax of the first movement in the Piano Concerto (towards the end) is one of my favourite moments in Bliss's work. I also like the Concerto for Two Pianos very much.

[vandermolen]

Have any of us heard Things to Come live with orchestra?  I didn't even know this existed.

No, but I wish I had.

[Roasted Swan]

A CD that has been mentioned before here due to its excellence.  But no reason not to mention it again.  Yesterday I listened to;



Apart from the quality of the music I do enjoy hearing three fine conductors and orchestras clearly enjoying this wonderful music.  The Edinburgh Overture is relatively occasional but well worth a hear.  Why Paavo Berglund made one LP of Bliss and nothing else I've no idea - but it was superb both in this atmospheric and powerful "Miracle in the Gorbals" (would this still work as a stage ballet I wonder - the music is great).  But this CD is crowned by my favourite version of "The Colour Symphony".  Excellent engineering for sure but its Groves' ripe and ringing interpretation that impresses so much.  He really gets the Bliss idiom somehow fusing the heraldic and the edgier/'modern' (a relative term) elements.  I still find Bliss' marginalisation bemusing.  I had a quick look at the BBC Proms archive - I think the last time anything of his was played the (The Colour Symphony) was 2006 which is a telling statement on the mind-set/knowledge/appreciation of music by the concert planners.

[Irons]

A CD that has been mentioned before here due to its excellence.  But no reason not to mention it again.  Yesterday I listened to;



Apart from the quality of the music I do enjoy hearing three fine conductors and orchestras clearly enjoying this wonderful music.  The Edinburgh Overture is relatively occasional but well worth a hear.  Why Paavo Berglund made one LP of Bliss and nothing else I've no idea - but it was superb both in this atmospheric and powerful "Miracle in the Gorbals" (would this still work as a stage ballet I wonder - the music is great).  But this CD is crowned by my favourite version of "The Colour Symphony".  Excellent engineering for sure but its Groves' ripe and ringing interpretation that impresses so much.  He really gets the Bliss idiom somehow fusing the heraldic and the edgier/'modern' (a relative term) elements.  I still find Bliss' marginalisation bemusing.  I had a quick look at the BBC Proms archive - I think the last time anything of his was played the (The Colour Symphony) was 2006 which is a telling statement on the mind-set/knowledge/appreciation of music by the concert planners.

The appointment of Berglund as principal conductor of Bournemouth SO was inspired. So many great records during his seven year tenure. Glass half full - as you say only one Bliss issue (including the excellent Cello Concerto), but thanks to his time on the South Coast we are blessed with a handful of English music recordings which are very special indeed and make more then interesting alternatives to Boult, Barbirolli et al.

[vandermolen]

A CD that has been mentioned before here due to its excellence.  But no reason not to mention it again.  Yesterday I listened to;



Apart from the quality of the music I do enjoy hearing three fine conductors and orchestras clearly enjoying this wonderful music.  The Edinburgh Overture is relatively occasional but well worth a hear.  Why Paavo Berglund made one LP of Bliss and nothing else I've no idea - but it was superb both in this atmospheric and powerful "Miracle in the Gorbals" (would this still work as a stage ballet I wonder - the music is great).  But this CD is crowned by my favourite version of "The Colour Symphony".  Excellent engineering for sure but its Groves' ripe and ringing interpretation that impresses so much.  He really gets the Bliss idiom somehow fusing the heraldic and the edgier/'modern' (a relative term) elements.  I still find Bliss' marginalisation bemusing.  I had a quick look at the BBC Proms archive - I think the last time anything of his was played the (The Colour Symphony) was 2006 which is a telling statement on the mind-set/knowledge/appreciation of music by the concert planners.

I agree - it's also my favourite version of A Colour Symphony.

[Scion7]

Have any of us heard Things to Come live with orchestra?  I didn't even know this existed.

a bite of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnpX85DedYU