Recordings
The website of the Bliss Archive includes a complete list of recordings. Here we concentrate on highlighting new discs when they appear, together with significant ones from the past.
Not a recent recording but… the August 2021 issue of Gramophone (pp 92/3) carries an excellent discussion under ‘Classics Reconsidered’ of the 1974 recording of Music for Strings coupled with the Howells Concerto for Strings (LPO/Boult)
New Discs
9 August 2024: ‘Bliss: Works for Brass Band’
Kenilworth, The Belmont Variations, Four Dances from Checkmate, Suite from Things to Come,
Suite from Adam Zero, arrangements of Welcome the Queen and The Royal Palaces and more
Black Dyke Band, Conductor: John Wilson
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
19 January 2024: ‘The Paavo Berglund Edition’
Cello Concerto and Miracle in the Gorbals
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Paavo Berglund, Arto Noras (cello)
(Warner Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
26 January 2024: ‘English Music for Clarinet and Piano ll: Howells, Bliss & Cooke’
Pastoral for Clarinet and Piano
Thea King (clarinet), Clifford Benson (piano)
(Hyperion)
Click HERE for more details.
17 November 2023: ‘Wigmore Soloists – Sir Arthur Bliss Clarinet Quintet, Howard Ferguson Octet, Robin Holloway Octet’
Clarinet Quintet
Michael Collins (clarinet), Isabelle van Keulen, Sini Simonen, Scott Dickinson, Kristina Blaumane
(BIS)
Click HERE for more details.
3 November 2023: ‘Journey to the Stars: A Sci-fi Fantasy Adventure’
Things to Come Suite (edited John Mauceri)
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Conductor: John Mauceri
(Decca)
Click HERE for more details.
29 September 2023: ‘Britten: Gloriana Dances – Bliss: Pastoral, Lie Strewn the White Flocks – Holst: Rig Veda Hymns’
Pastoral, Lie Strewn the White Flocks
Shirley Minty (mezzo), Judith Pearce (flute)
Hokst Orchestra, Holst Singers, Conductor: Hilary Davan Wetton
(Hyperion)
Click HERE for more details.
28 July 2023: ‘Bliss: Viola Sonata & Piano Works’
Viola Sonata, Masks, Triptych, Interludes (2), Toccata
Emanuel Vardi (viola), Kathron Sturrock (piano)
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
3 March 2023: ‘Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – British Composers: Elgar, Delus, Bax, Britten’
A Colour Symphony
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves
(Warner Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
17 June 2022: ‘British Classical Music Masterpieces’
Royal Fanfare
London Brass, Conductor: Martin Neary
(Menuetto Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
17 June 2022: ‘Bax, Bliss & Britten: Music for Oboe & Strings’
Oboe Quintet
Pamela Woods (oboe), Audubon String Quartet
(Telarc)
Click HERE for more details.
18 March 2022: ‘City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra – British Composers’
Edinburgh Overture
CBSO, Conductor: Vernon Handley
(Warner Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
28 January 2022: ‘20th Century British Piano Sonatas’
Piano Sonata
Marguerite Woolf (piano)
(Heritage)
Click HERE for more details.
8 November 2021: ‘Jubilations! Music for Brass and Organ’
Salute!
St. Ignatius Brass Ensemble, Nancianne Parella, Kent Tritle
(MSR Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
5 November 2021: The Lady of Shalott, Rout (Ilona Domnich, soprano),
Two Contrasts for String Orchestra, Polonaise and other Bliss works
BBC Concert Orchestra, Conductor: Martin Yates
(Dutton Vocalion)
Click HERE for more details.
29 October 2021: ‘Bernard Herrmann conducts Great British Film Music’
Things to Come Suite
National Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Bernard Herrmann
(Decca)
Click HERE for more details.
3 September 2021: ‘British Oboe Quintets’
Oboe Quintet
Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Doric String Quartet
(Chandos Records)
Click HERE for more details.
3 September 2021: ‘Cyril Smith Solo Recordings’
Suite for Piano (Polonaise)
Cyril Smith (piano)
(APR)
Click HERE for more details.
16 July 2021: ‘Bax and Bliss: Quintets for Oboe and String Quartet’
Oboe Quintet F21
Bert Lucarelli (oboe), Manhattan String Quartet
(Musical Heritage Society)
Click HERE for more details.
16 July 2021: ‘Music for a Prince, Music by a Prince’
Theme from Processional Interludes (3 arrangements)
Theodore Bucholz (cello), Paula Fan (piano), Edward Reid (trumpet)
(Toccata Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
April 2021: ‘Pure Bliss – Chamber music by Arthur Bliss’
Oboe Quintet, Conversations, Clarinet Quintet
Juliette Bausor (flute), Daniel Bates (oboe)
Katherine Spencer (clarinet), Beatrice Philips (violin)
Laura Lutzke (violin), Adam Newman (viola), Hannah Sloane (cello)
(Stone Records: 5060192781045)
Click HERE for more details.
January 2021: ‘English Music for Strings’
Music for Strings
Sinfonia of London, Conductor: John Wilson
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
January 2021: ‘Tame Cat and Other Songs by British Composers’
Two Nursery Rhymes for Soprano & Clarinet
Sylvia Eaves (soprano), Courtney Kenny (piano), Thea King (clarinet)
(Cameo Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
November 2020: ‘Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Orchestral Favourites’
Things to Come Suite: March
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Robin Stapleton
(Brilliant Classics)
Click HERE for more details.
July 2020 (Re-issue): ‘Solomon – Concertos, Sonatas & Pieces’
Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op 58
Solomon (piano)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult
(Profil Medien)
Click HERE for more details.
July 2020: ‘The Romantic Concerto 81 – Rubbra & Bliss’
Piano Concerto in B flat major
Piers Lane (piano)
The Orchestra Now, Conductor: Leon Botstein
(Hyperion)
Click HERE for more details.
June 2020 (Re-issue): ‘Sir Arthur Bliss: the Decca Originals’
Welcome the Queen, Things to Come Suite, A Colour Symphony, Introduction and Allegro
London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Arthur Bliss
Baraza from Men of Two Worlds
Eileen Joyce (piano)
National Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Muir Mathieson
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Theme and Cadenza for Violin
Alfredo Campoli (violin)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Arthur Bliss
String Quartet No.2 in F minor
Griller Quartet
(Eloquence)
Click HERE for more details.
November 2019: ‘Bliss: MARY OF MAGDALA, THE ENCHANTRESS,
Meditations on a Theme by John Blow’
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Dame Sarah Conolly (mezzo), James Platt (bass)
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
September 2019: ‘British String Quartets’
Clarinet Quintet
Conversations for Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello
String Quartet No. 1 in B flat major
String Quartet No. 2 in F minor, String Quartet in A major
Maggini Quartet (with guest players)
(Naxos)
Click HERE for more details.
August 2019: ‘British Tone Poems Vol 1’
Mêlée Fantasque
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Rumon Gamba
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
July 2019: ‘Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge’’
Elegiac Sonnet
James Gilchrist (tenor) Anna Tlbrook (piano)
(Linn)
Click HERE for more details.
June 2019: ‘Notes from Home: Music of the British Isles’
Pastoral for Clarinet and Piano
onathan Holden (clarinet) Eun-Hee Park (piano)
(Centaur)
Click HERE for more details.
March 2019: ‘The Music of Royal Weddings’
Wedding Fanfare and Royal Fanfare
London Brass, Conductor: Martin Neary
(Menuetto Classics).
Click HERE for more details.
March 2019 (Re-issue): ‘Milestones of a Legend: Alfredo Campoli Vol 8’
Violin Concerto F 111
Alfredo Campoli (violin)
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult
(Documents)
Click HERE for more details.
January 2019: ‘The Music of Bliss & Howells’
Fanfare for the Lord Mayor of London, Kenilworth Suite for Brass, Ceremony of the Red Bishops from ‘Four dances from Checkmate’ and The Belmont Variations
Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Conductor: David Thornton
(Worldofbrass).
Click HERE for more details.
September 2018: ‘My Playlist for Drawing & Painting’
A Colour Symphony: Purple
English Northern Philharmonia, Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones
(Naxos)
Click HERE for more details.
May 2018: ‘The Passion of Bliss, Bowen & Bridge’
Viola Sonata Op 91
Doris Lederer (viola), Bruce Murray (piano)
(Centaur)
Click HERE for more details.
March 2018: ‘Fanfares’ includes
twelve Bliss fanfares plus the National Anthem with Bliss’s fanfare
Onyx Brass (with guest players) conducted by John Wilson
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
February 2018: THE BEATITUDES,
Introduction and Allegro, God Save the Queen,
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Emily Birsan (soprano), Ben Johnson (tenor)
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
May 2017: ‘Walton & Bliss – Violin Concertos’
Bliss’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Lorraine McAslan (violin)
BBC Concert Orchestra, Conductor: Martin Yates
(Dutton Vocalion)
Click HERE for more details.
May 2016: British Violin Sonatas Vol 2
Bliss’s Violin Sonata
Tasmin Little (violin), Piers Lane (piano)
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.
September 2015: Bliss: MORNING HEROES and Hymn to Apollo
Samuel West,
BBC Symphony Chorus BBC Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
(Chandos)
Presto Classical review
5-star review in BBC Music Magazine Christmas 2015 issue page 94
Click HERE for more details.
May 2013 (Re-issue): ‘Arthur Bliss conducts Bliss’
The Beatitudes
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Festival Choir, Conductor: Sir Arthur Bliss
Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano), Richard Lewis (tenor)
A Colour Symphony, Introduction and Allegro, Things to Come Suite
London Symphony Orchestra, Conductor: Sir Arthur Bliss
Pastoral, Lie Strewn the White Flocks
Nancy Evans (mezzo), Gareth Morris (flute)
Jaques String Orchestra, BBC Chorus, Conductor: Reginald Jaques
March – The Phoenix (in honour of France)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor: Constant Lambert
(Dutton)
Click HERE for more details.
April 2012: ‘The Complete Piano Music of Arthur Bliss – Volume One’
Mark Bebbington (piano)
(Somm)
Click HERE for more details.
May 2015: ‘The Complete Piano Music of Arthur Bliss – Volume Two’
Mark Bebbington (piano)
(Somm)
Click HERE for more details.
‘Gramophone’ review
See ‘Presto Classical’ for David Smith’s interview with Mark Bebbington.
August 2005: Bliss: Checkmate and Mêlée Fantasque
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones
(Naxos)
Click HERE for more details.
March 2001: ‘The Film Music of Sir Arthur Bliss’
Welcome the Queen, Things to Come (arr. P. Lane),
The Royal Palaces Suite, War in the Air
Caesar and Cleopatra Suite (arr G. Easterbrook)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Rumon Gamba
(Chandos)
Click HERE for more details.