Arthur Bliss (1891–1975) was a distinguished English composer whose works span a variety of genres, including orchestral music, chamber music, opera, ballet, choral music, and film scores. He is regarded as one of the most important British composers of the 20th century. His music is often characterized by its vivid orchestration, harmonic boldness, and expressive depth. Bliss was also known for embracing modernist techniques while maintaining a distinctly English musical voice.

Born in London to a family of wealth, Bliss initially pursued studies at Rugby School and then at the Royal College of Music. At the Royal College, he found his composition tutor, Sir Charles Stanford, of little help to him, but found inspiration from Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst and his fellow-students, Herbert Howells, Eugene Goossens and Arthur Benjamin.

When the First World War broke out, Bliss joined the army and fought in France as an officer in the Royal Fusiliers until 1917 and then in the Grenadier Guards for the rest of the war. His bravery earned him a mention in despatches, and he was twice wounded and once gassed. His younger brother, Kennard, was killed in the war, and his death affected Bliss deeply.

Bliss served as director of music at the BBC from 1942 to 1944, laying the foundations for the launch of the Third Programme after the war. During the war, he also served on the music committee of the British Council together with Vaughan Williams and William Walton.

In 1950, Bliss was knighted. After the death of Sir Arnold Bax he was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 1953, to the relief of Walton, who feared he would be asked to take the post.

Bliss’s legacy is still felt today, with his works regularly performed by British orchestras and choirs. His music, known for its distinctive, bold harmonies and vibrant orchestration, remains an important part of the 20th-century English musical landscape.

Bliss' connections with the Three Choirs Festival run deeply. His first premiere at the Three Choirs was A Colour Symphony, written to be performed at the 1922 Gloucester Three Choirs Festival, at the invitation of Sir Edward Elgar. This was a highly expressive work, standing out as an example of his matured style. It combines lush orchestral textures with a modernist edge.

Bliss also premiered two other works at the Three Choirs Festival, namely his Mary of Magdala (1962) and Arrangements for Brass of 3 Chorales from Bach's St John Passion (1960). Mary of Magdala is due for performance at Hereford 2025.