Search - Elgar, Bliss, London Sym Orch :: Elgar: Pomp & Circumstance marches / Bliss: 'Things to Come' suite; 'Welcome the Queen'

Bliss and Elgar

The Night Owl out on the Town | Los Angeles, CA United States | 04/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this music on LP in the late 1960's and it has always one of my favorite discs. Bliss was Master of the King's (Queen's) Musick like Elgar and produced occasional music for royal events like his more famous predecessor. His Welcome the Queen sounds like Elgar's Sixth Pomp and Circumstance March so close is it in style. It has a catchy central tune and sticks in your brain like P&Cs 1 and 4.

Bliss's music for Things to Come is worthy of its independent concert life. The March here is its centerpiece and deservedly so, but the whole suite is alive with excitement. I recall playing it for a conductor friend some years ago, and he promptly programmed it into one of his orchestra's summer concerts.

The stereo sound may not be in the first class, and the playing of the London Symphony may not be the smoothest, but there is such spirit and swagger here that I still prefer this version of the Pomp and Circumstance Marches to all other versions. I think someone called Bliss's conducting style here 'rambustious'--- not a bad description.

Over the years, pieces of this program have appeared on compact disc, but the Autralians have finally put it back together again.

Buy it. If you love Elgar, you will not be disappointed!"