Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss was an English composer and conductor. In the post-war years he quickly became known as an unconventional andmodernistcomposer. In the Second World War, Bliss returned to England from the US to work for theBBCand became its director of music. After the war he resumed his work as a composer, and was appointedMaster of the Queens Music. Since his death in 1975, his compositions have been well represented in recordings, and many of his better-known works remain in the repertoire of British orchestras.

A pioneering biography of Sir Arthur Bliss, one of the most important British musicians of his age. His portfolio of works included ballet and film (H.G. Wells's Things to Come remains one of the finest film scores). He was Director of Music at the BBC from 1942-1944, was knighted and soon after appointed Master of the Queen's Music. Paul Spicer is a leading authority on twentieth-century British music.