The Society was founded in early 2003 with the aim of furthering the appreciation, understanding and knowledge of the music of Sir Arthur Bliss (1891-1975). He was one of the most important figures in British musical life from the early 1920s (when he was regarded as an enfant terrible) through to his later years and his tenure of the office of Master of the Queen's Music from 1953 until his death.

The Committee benefited greatly from the support and encouragement of the late Lady Bliss, our first President, and then from the late George Dannatt. For the Chairman's tribute to him, and links to press obituaries, click here. Our Vice-Chairman, David Wilby, has written an appreciation for MusicWeb: click here.

We were delighted when Peter Ainsworth and Ian Venables accepted invitations to become Vice-Presidents of the Society. Not long afterwards our Chairman had lunch with them at the House of Commons (photograph). Following George's death Ian agreed to become our third President, and Terry Barfoot to follow Ian as a Vice-President. We are confident that, with Peter, both will continue the tradition of their predecessors in assisting us to promote appreciation and the performance of Sir Arthur's works.

Continuing this theme, we are equally delighted that four distinguished musicians have accepted invitations to become the first Patrons of the Society. They are Mark Bebbington, James Gilchrist, Julian Lloyd Webber and David Lloyd-Jones. More details are in the Newsletter sent out last November.

A substantial Newsletter is published twice a year, in the Spring and Autumn. The latest issue has just been published. A separate cumulative Index to the first twelve issues is currently available and a copy was sent out with an earlier Newsletter. Non-members wishing to buy copies of the Newsletter or the Index please contact the Chairman.

The website of The Bliss Trust contains biography, bibliography and discography, and we complement this on the Society's site with active information about social and study events, current news and comment, details of membership, how to join and how to contact us. Whilst the Bliss Trust website is still the place to go for the complete discography, we are planning to put a more selective and current list of discs on this site: Helen is currently preparing this. The photographs page will return as soon as possible. We still appeal for any non-copyright photographs which we could show here, or copyrighted that we might be allowed to display.

Our Performances page is accessed by lovers of Sir Arthur's music worldwide, and we are as keen to include notices of performances abroad as we are in the UK. We are pleased to be able to include details of the performance of The Beatitudes at Coventry in September 2012. This is a wonderful achievement after years of effort by, among others, our member Malcolm Sutherland (who sang in its first performance) and our Chairman.

Rupert Luck has written on another page about the Violin Sonata, dating from about 1914 and hitherto existing only in manuscript form, now restored and edited - as well as performed and recorded - by him.

We know that far more performances take place in other countries than we show on our Performances page and we look to our site visitors for information. We have no other regular means of knowing about concerts before they take place. We also put notice of works played on UK radio if we spot them in the listings in time.

The Enquiries page gives the opportunity to site visitors, whether members of the Society or not, to contribute questions or comments.

We devote a page to the Charlton Kings Choral Society because of its close links with the late Lady Bliss, initially through our Chairman. Six of our eight Committee members belong to the choir, and a seventh, John Wright, is its Conductor.

The Links page joins us to other interesting and relevant websites : please suggest any useful additions. Please also let us know of forthcoming performances of Bliss music so that we can publicise them here. Click here to contact the webmaster.

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