In 1923, Arthur Bliss , whose father was American, moved to California with his family. There he was able to widen his musical horizons, listening to and observing the most eminent orchestras and conductors including Pierre Monteux with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra with Stokowski. He performed in a chamber ensemble and did some conducting of his own. He also took the opportunityto broaden his musical connections: a meeting with music patroness Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge resulted in the commission of a work for oboist
Leon Goossens. And he met and married his wife Gertrude Hoffmann.
Bliss (A One-Step)
Philip Fowke (piano)
Introduction and Allegro
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Barry Wordsworth
Rich or Poor Henry Hurford (baritone), Kathron Sturrock (piano) Oboe Quartet
Pamela Woods (oboe), Audobon Quartet Pastoral (excerpt)
Della Jones (mezzo), Sinfonia Chorus, Northern Sinfonia, conductor Richard Hickox