Bliss's 'Morning Heroes' is a symphony for orator, chorus, and orchestra, dedicated to the memory of his brother Francis Kennard Bliss and all other comrades killed in battle.
Composer Biography
Sir Arthur Bliss, the composer, was wounded in the Battle of the Somme and gassed at Cambrai during World War I, and his brother Kennard was killed at Thiepval.
Composition History
Bliss's 'Hymn to Apollo' was originally composed in 1926 as a 'thank you' to Pierre Monteux, a conductor who introduced Bliss's 'A Colour Symphony' to audiences in New York and Boston.
Compositional Technique
In 'Morning Heroes', Bliss used an orator to deliver two texts, believing it would achieve greater dramatic intensity than singing, requiring the orator to use every variety of color and pitch.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bliss described 'Hymn to Apollo' as an invocation to Apollo as the god of healing, and it was completed exactly a decade after his brother Kennard's death, suggesting a deeper, unspoken tribute.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bliss intended 'Morning Heroes' to explore experiences common to all ages and times, using a meticulously chosen succession of texts to create architectural unity and emotional momentum.
Performer Biography
Samuel West, the orator on this recording, is an actor who has performed with major British orchestras and at the BBC Proms, including as a soloist in Walton's 'Henry V'.
