News and Comment

Film of Miracle in the Gorbals?
We have been asked to appeal for help in finding a copy of the film or video of Miracle in the Gorbals made by 'Ballet for All', a company formed by dancers from The Royal Ballet. It is thought not to have been shown on television, but perhaps someone has heard of it or knows where it could be found? If so, please contact the Chairman.
DVD of Things to Come
now being advertised on at least two websites: www.bensonsworld.co.uk and www.films2door.co.uk
Video clips on the Internet
From the British Music Society's circulars we have two Internet links to live clips of performances in the public domain: 1 - The Lady of Shallot.. LSSO. Rehearsal with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eric Pinkett in 1975 (a wonderful three-minute piece). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7S51kcVTtg 2 - a performance of the Bliss Piano Concerto - Trevor Barnard (piano), Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/Albert Rosen http://www.brandon-music.net/flash_flv_player/barnardvideo.htm
DVD of Checkmate
We were all unaware of a new DVD of the 1982 Checkmate that has just been drawn to our attention: it is on the Royal Opera House website as a new release. Gavin Gordon's The Rake's Progress is on the same DVD.
Portrait of Sir Arthur Bliss, 1966
We have been informed that a portrait of Sir Arthur by Kenneth Green, 1966, oil on canvas, is available for sale. For more details contact our Chairman.
ARTHUR BLISS GARDENS
to see a larger version of the picture, double-click on the thumbnail : to return, click on your browser's back arrow April 2005 - Arthur Bliss Gardens, Cheltenham, is now built, part of an elegant development in The Park area of the town (see story below). Our Chairman, Gerald Towell (right), went to visit the new estate with Councillor Lloyd Surgenor, Deputy for Public and Environmental Protection, Cheltenham Borough Council. Each new resident has now received one of our publicity leaflets.
STARS IN A DARK NIGHT
Anthony Boden's new edition of the letters of Ivor Gurney to the Chapman family, first published in 1986. This is expanded with much new biographical material on Gurney and several additional photographs. Gurney was a contemporary and friend of Arthur Bliss at the Royal College of Music - indeed, Herbert Howells composed an orchestral suite in 1914, The Bs, in which each movement represents one of five RCM friends whose nicknames began with B. These included Arthur Bliss as 'Blissy', as well as Howells himself, Arthur Benjamin, Ivor Gurney and Bunny Warren (a viola player who died in the Great War). Published by Sutton Publishing, May 2004 at £7.99. For further details click here to contact the author.
BBC Radio 3 : Brian Kay's Light Programme
In his programme on Thursday 1 April 2004 Brian Kay sent good wishes to Lady Bliss for her 100th birthday on 2 April, and played 'Welcome the Queen'.
Newsletter Crossword result
Helen Wilby's entry was the first correct entry opened in the Newsletter Crossword competition, and the Chairman has presented her with her prize of a copy of Bliss on Music. Congratulations!
CD of the Month
We were delighted that *Gramophone* magazine nominated as its Editor's CD of the Month for January 2004 the Naxos recording of the Piano Concerto, the Sonata for Piano and the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra.Soloists: Peter Donohoe and Martin Roscoe, with The Scottish National Orchestra. The recording has been generously supported by The Bliss Trust.
"Sit. royal and vacant"
Sunday Telegraph, 4 January 2004 (Review page 8): Michael Kennedy asks why the post of Master of the Queen's Music is still vacant, nine months after Malcolm Williamson's death. In his light-hearted piece he looks back at the previous holders of the post, and has a couple of paragraphs about Sir Arthur.
The Royal Northern College of Music Archives are now open to the public, and their contents are listed on their website.
Searching on 'Bliss' finds a letter of condolence that he wrote to the widow of Alan Rawsthorne, and four items from the performing archive of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, a key collection in the RNCM Archives.
Suggestion from a Member
"...bombard the BBC Radio 3 early morning programme for music by Bliss. They have recently started asking listeners for suggestions." Another member has added: "and Classic FM".
BLISS roads
A quick look at streetmap.co.uk shows one road named after Arthur Bliss, in Newport (does anyone know why?), and a dozen or so roads in the UK named 'Bliss' - Bliss Way, Bliss Avenue etc. We don't know how many of these latter have been named after Sir Arthur Bliss, although undoubtedly some have must have originated in his honour. (Again, does anyone know?) In Cheltenham there is currently a scheme by Bryant Homes to name five roads on a new housing estate in the Park area of the town after famous Cheltonians. Sir Arthur was not born in the town, but he was one of the key figures in the development of the Cheltenham International Festival of Music, of which he was President from 1965 until his death. He was a well-loved and respected figure amongst his peers and audiences alike, and worked tirelessly for the Festival, thus helping put Cheltenham on the musical map. Our Society's Chairman, Gerald Towell, joined in the spirited correspondence that ran for some weeks in the local newspaper about the merits of various candidates for naming, who included Gustav Holst and Brian Jones. In his own letter he reminded readers of how Sir Arthur and his wife went out of their way to mix with members of Festival audiences, and that many people all over the world remembered the friendly atmosphere that characterised his tenure. Lady Bliss also still recalls those years with pleasure, and retains a great affection for the town. At a Council committee meeting in July 2003 the proposal was agreed (with Gustav Holst and Brian Jones being rejected). Before too long we will be able to walk along a road in Cheltenham called Bliss Gardens. Perhaps when the new residents arrive we should do a letter-box drop and tell them about him ...