Sir Arthur Bliss: Checkmate Suite; Hymn to Apollo; Quintet for Clarinet & Strings; Pastoral

Arthur Bliss (Composer), Vernon Handley (Conductor), Richard Hickox (Conductor), Ulster Orchestra (Orchestra), Northern Sinfonia of England (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia of England
• Conductor: Vernon Handley, Richard Hickox
• Composer: Arthur Bliss
• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000IM6R
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,608 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Bargain Bliss, January 10, 2001

By 

Geoffrey Brock (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sir Arthur Bliss: Checkmate Suite; Hymn to Apollo; Quintet for Clarinet & Strings; Pastoral (Audio CD)

For those who have not yet discovered the music of Sir Arthur Bliss, former Master of the Queen's Music, this is an excellent introduction.

The Music for Strings is a moving piece, not unlike the Elgar Inroduction and Allegro in style, although in the singular language that can only be Bliss. Under Hickox and the Northern Sinfonia, it is very moving.

The Checkmate suite is, I think, the best introduction for those who wish to explore Bliss' music. Easily approachable, with gorgeous scrunchy chords and near-dissonances, and vital lively rhythms. It is wonderfully played by Handley and the Ulster Orchestra.

The Hymn to Apollo is rarely performed (or indeed recorded) nowadays, and is good to have this brilliant piece available again, especially when is it so movingly performed by Hickox and the UO.

The Clarinet Quintet, too, is not often heard, and this excellent performance by Janet Hilton and the Lidsay Quartet is particularly well recorded.

The Pastoral "Lie strewn the white flocks" is typical of Bliss' sound world and once heard the haunting music is never forgotten. Again, the recording is excellent.

All this on 2 CD's for the price of one - how can you not buy it?