Sir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, born 2 August 1891 in Barnes, was a British composer and conductor. Educated at Rugby and Pembroke College, Cambridge, he studied music under Charles Wood and later at the Royal College of Music, where he was influenced by Vaughan Williams and Holst. His first major work, A Colour Symphony (1922), established him as a modernist voice, followed by Checkmate (1936) and the film score Things to Come (1936). During World War II he returned to England, served as director of music at the BBC (1942‑44) and later became Master of the Queen's Music in 1953 after Arnold Bax’s death. He was also knighted in 1950, received the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1963, and was appointed KCVO in 1969. Bliss composed concertos for piano, violin and cello, including the Piano Concerto (1938) and The Cello Concerto (1970). He passed away on 27 March 1975.
