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Letters - part 3

Letters to and from Arthur Bliss written between 1940 and the end of 1949

The letters are arranged in chronological order. Many of the letters do not include the year of writing, which has been supplied editorially, based on the evidence of the content of the letter, and the address from or to which the letter has been sent. The date as found on the letter is enclosed in brackets.

The conventions A.L.S. and T.L.S. indicate Autograph or Typed Letter Signed. The addressee is spelt out in full before the form found at the beginning of the letter, which is enclosed in brackets. The quotation from the letter is either the first or a more interesting section. The signature at the end of the letter is given after a slash. Futher notes on the content are added, with editorial amplifications in square brackets.

The letters are kept order of the correspondent, i.e. the person to whom Bliss bliss wrote or from whom he received a letter.

 

Writer Date Description and content Addresses/Provenance
Vaughan Williams, Ralph. [194-?] A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur"): "Thank you very much - I can now die happy" / signed "RVW". Address from: The White Gates, Westcott Road, Dorking.
    Annotated: "V.W. asked me to be one of his musical executors. AB" - on 5th June 1949 RVW wrote to Gerald Finzi in which he writes "a few years ago I appointed Morris and Bliss as my literary executors". R.O. Morris dies in 1948, so this letter must predate that.  Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/05/12 (May 12th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "I am going to seize the occasion of the end of term exams to write to you. You must imagine me, austere ’Mr Chips’ sitting on a dais before 100 students to whom I have set a rigorous paper on English music" / signed "Arthur". Address from: University of California, Department of Music, Berkeley, California
    Bliss music as mentioned: "... Greek theatre ... unused ... I want to do the myth of Theseus there as a dramatic ballet - but the initial stimulation is of course lacking" 
Other works as mentioned: "Romeo & Juliet - Anthony and Cleopatra – Macbeth [all by  Shakespeare]". 
Names as mentioned: "Peggy [Bridges-Adams] - Barbara [Bliss] - Laurence Olivier - Vivien Leigh - Dane Whitty - Palestrina - Trudy - the children [Barbara & Karen] - her mother [Mrs Gertrude Hoffmann] - her sister [Pauline Hoffmann]".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/05/17 (May 17th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "This is just to thank you for showing me the contents of the letter... from the President's Office... After our talk yesterday I feel my usefulness in the department might best be used in the following ways..." / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: University of California. 
Address to: The Music Dept. U.C. Berkeley.
      Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/05/19 (May 19th) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Butter if you please! I can't imagine any kinder or more practical help. But you mustn't do it again... " / signed "Bridges". Address from: Badingham.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Checkmate". 
Names as mentioned: "Shakespeare – [Lord] Lloyd [of Dolobran] - Constant Lambert". 
Institutions as mentioned: "British Council - Haarlem Orchestra - Sadlers Wells Ballet".
Places as mentioned: "California - Savile Club - Holland - The Hague - Haarlem - Amsterdam - Brussels - Antwerp - Harwich - Liverpool Street - Havre".
[Published in As I remember, p.127, wrongly dated as "May 15th"]
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/06/09 (June 9th 1940) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Your letter gave us even more delight than your butter which is saying much. A Chair of Drama at Berkeley sounds attractive..." / signed "Bridges". Address from: Badingham.
    Names as mentioned: "[Lord] Lloyd [of Dolobran] - British Council - until they evacuate the Council - Henry James - Patience - Unity - Nick - Peg [Bridges Adams] – [Oswald] Mosley – [Stafford] Cripps - Miss [Lilian] Baylis". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Sadlers Wells".
Places as mentioned: "University of California, Berkeley - Suffolk - Savile Club - Badingham - Devon - Gosport - Russia - England - Versailles - Ruhr - France - Holland - Malvern".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/06/16 (June 16th 1940) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Now we are really down to it, and you must write. I mean write music. This continent has smelt of death for years: but you are in a new world surrounded by young people" / signed "Bridges". Address from: Badingham.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Perpetuum Mobile in Things to Come - Knight's Mazurka in Checkmate" - "Beggar's Opera". 
Names as mentioned: "Noel Coward - Ivy St. Helier - William – [Sir Francis] Drake - Peg - Pokev - MacHeath [character in the Beggar’s opera] - Von Brauschitz ". 
Institutions as mentioned: "British Council. Music committee - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra  - Sadlers Wells Ballet".
Places as mentioned: "America - England - France - Germany - International Rome [Mussolini?] - International Jerrey [Hitler?] - Russia [Stalin?] - Badingham - Glyndebourne - Canada - South Africa ".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/07/12 (12.7.40) Photocopy of cable message to Arthur Bliss : "No words thanks adequate accept cabling again shortly" / signed "BridgesAdams [sic]". Address from: Badingham 
Address to: Bliss Hoffman Mission Canyon Santa Barbara California USA.
      Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/07/14 (14.7.40) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "What you and Trudy have done is not an everyday affair and everyday formulas of thanks are quite out of the question. Long before this war became imminent I wanted Nick to grow up in a younger country..." / signed "Bridges". Address from: Badingham.
    Names as mentioned: "Nick - Peg - Trudy". 
Places as mentioned: "America - New Zealand - Stratford - London".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/07/25 (July 25th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Your two magnificent letters of June 6th and 9th have blown us sky high with cheer. You need not worry about the censor, as it took me a good painstaking half hour to decipher them myself" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Department of Music, University of California, Berkeley, California.
    Names as mentioned: "Trudy - Karen - Barbara - Nick - Mrs Sankey - Everil [Sajnkey] - Mrs Osborn [thought by Lady Bliss to be a domestic of Bridges-Adams or neighbours of the aforementioned] - Tommy [Thomas Osborn] - Professor [George Lyman] Kittredge - Shakespeare - Peggy". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Harvard University".
Places as mentioned: "England - Hampstead - Europe".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/09/05 (5/9/40) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "The wail of the syrens has sent all junior staff down to our lordly shelter (which like H. G. Wells's Heaven, is hygienic, air-conditioned and free of boys and girls, but dull)" / signed "Bridges". Address from: British Council [& Badingham for the last two pages].
    Names as mentioned: "H. G. Wells - Titanic - Unity [Bridges Adams] - Overture to Meistersingers [Richard Wagner] - I am the Paul Revere of the Local Home Guard - Patience [Bridges-Adams] - Peg [Bridges-Adams] - Thomas Hardy - Duke of Wellington - Nick [Bridges-Adams] - my nephew". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Local Home Guard (ex L.D.V.) - W.A.A.F. - Red Cross".
Places as mentioned: "London - Berlin".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/09/06 (Friday Sept 6.) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: University of California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I have already started the quartet..." [String quartet no. 1]. Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Howard. 1940/09/15 (Sept. 15th) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("A.") : "As you know, the storm has broken" / signed "Howard". With hand written note at end concerning Enid Bliss’ 21st birthday present  [Enid Bliss was born in 1919,  she was 21 in 1940]  
    Names as mentioned: "Barbara [Bliss] – [Adolf] Hitler - Enid [Bliss] - Duddle [Whitefoord] (Housekeeper at Holland Park) - Isolde Menges Quartet – Brahms 6tet [String sextet]. - Budapest Quartet - Elizabeth Hudson - the Ferains are in New York - "The Owl" - M.O. Marshall". 
Places as mentioned: "London - Bristol - New York – ‘Long Heyle’, Heyshott, near Midhurst. Sussex."
[Partially quoted in  As I remember, p. 126]
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/09/18 (September 18th) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Trudy's welcome letter came today. Let there be no mistake about it: unless the B.B.C. or the Council want you over here, your job is to stay where you are and write music... [partially quoted in As I remember, p. 129] Address from: Badingham Old Rectory, Badingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
    Names as mentioned: "[Richard] Wagner - Minna [Wagner] - Peg [Bridges-Adams] - Trudy [Bliss] - Shakespeare". 
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C. - British Council".
Places as mentioned: "Europe - Badingham - Crystal Palace".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/09/19 & 26 (September 19th, 1940) (26th on last page) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "The conflict I spoke of in my last letter is now somewhat diminished: but the exhilaration, if, possible is on the increase partly I think because every day it becomes more clear that anyone can be a bloody hero..." / signed "Bridges". Address from: [British] Council.
    Names as mentioned: "Ernest [Makower]'s house in Brook Street - Sir Peter Chalmers-Mitchell – [Edward] Elgar". 
Places as mentioned: "Brook Street - Savile Club - Malaga - America (U.S.) - London - Berlin".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Spivacke, Harold. 1940/09/25 (September 25, 1940) Photocopy telegram to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "Please let me know immediately when we may expect new quartet" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address from: Library of Congress. 
Address to: University of California Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "new quartet" [String quartet no. 1] Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/09/26 (Sept 26.) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: University of California, Department of Music, Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I have been hard at work on your quartet [String quartet no. 1] ... will not be completed in time for the 20th". 
Names as mentioned: "Mr [Harold] Spivacke".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Aber, Adolf. 1940/09/30 (30th September 1940) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Bliss") : "I am convinced that you do what you can to correct the strange ideas apparently prevailing in many parts of the States, especially in the West. From letters received... people over there think... London is ablaze" / signed "Adolf Aber". Address from: 160 Wardour Street London W1. 
Address to: Department of Music University of California Berkeley California.
    Names as mentioned: "Harold [Brooke] - Bruno Walter - Otto Klemperer - Ralph Hawkes - Myra Hess". 
Places as mentioned: "London - Los Angeles - National Galery".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/10/09 (Oct 9th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Your great scrawl of 5/9/40 has arrived and injected a new dose of vitamins into the Bliss family. I find your letter of much greater propaganda value than the weekly sheet of the British Council Address from: University of California, Department of Music, Berkeley, California.
    Names as mentioned: "Trudy [Bliss] - Barbara [Bliss] - Karen [Bliss] - Queen Victoria's Jubilee – Peggy [Bridges-Adams]".
Institutions as mentioned: "British Council".
Places as mentioned: "America - London - Europe".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/10/26 (October 26th) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Profound relief to get your on all counts. (1) I was beginning to wonder whether the censorship that is too zealous to let anything but Mein Kampff enter England had sat down on my efforts to persuade a grey haired cobbler to stick to his last." / signed "Bridges". Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook St. W1. or Badingham.
    Other music as mentioned: "Mein Kampff" / [Adolf Hitler]
Names as mentioned: "Trudy [Bliss] - Patience [Bridges-Adams] - Unity [Bridges-Adams] - Lady Margaret [?] - Peg [Bridges Adams] – [Lord] Lloyd [of Dolobran] - Charles Lamb". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Women’s Land Army - A.T.S. - Radcliffe Infirmary - Drama Committee [of the British Council] - Great Britain Treasury - Ministry of Information".
Places as mentioned: "England - California - America (U.S.A.) - Stratford [theatre] - Badingham - Oxford - London - Savile Club".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur [&] Trudy. 1940/10/30 (1940 OCT 30) Photocopy telegram to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge") : "Love and many happy returns" / signed "Arthur [&] Trudy Bliss". Address from: Berkeley California. 
Address to: Library of Congress, Wash DC.
      Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bridges-Adams, William. 1940/11/02 (2/11/40) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Your welcome letter of 9/10/40. A Fly in the Amber, I doubt not. You feel a Fly in Amber because you are not here (one more mouth to feed: one more good man entangled)...  / signed "Bridges". Address from: Badingham.
    Names as mentioned: "Judas [Iscariot] - Harper's [Magazine] – Peg [Bridges-Adams]".
Institutions as mentioned: "Royal Navy".
Places as mentioned: "London - America (U.S.) - Savile Club". 
[Partially quoted in As I remember, p.127]
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Coolidge, Elizabeth Sprague. 1940/11/06 (November 6, 1940) Photocopy T.L. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "As we are hoping to include your new quartet in several of our California programs next spring, I am writing to ask you how soon we may hope for its completion" / signed "(Mrs.) E.S. Coolidge". Address to: Music Division University of California, Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "new quartet" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte Quartet - Trudy". 
Places as mentioned: "Berkeley - San Jose - Stanford".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/11/11 (1940 NOV 11) Photocopy telegram to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: Berkeley, California. 
Address to: 2400 Sixteenth St.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Hope to get quartet [String quartet no. 1] finished January the first but not in time for New York performance". Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/11/15 (Nov 15th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: University of California, Department of Music, Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I hope to get the score of my quartet [String quartet no. 1] to you... about January first".
Names as mentioned: "Goossens - Milhaud". 
Places as mentioned: "New York".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/11/27 (Thanksgiving Day) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth"). Address from: 2632 Warring St. Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I am making great efforts to finish the quartet in time for the New York concert on Jan. 13th" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Coolidge Quartet". 
Places as mentioned: "New York".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. 1940/12/25 (Christmas Day) Photocopy of A.L. incomplete to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "I was glad to get your fine letter of Nov 2nd from Badingham written no doubt in the smaller hours at that portentous Pierpont Morgan like desk". Address from: 2632 Warring St. Berkeley, Calif.
    Names as mentioned: "[John] Pierpont Morgan - Nick [Bridges-Adams] - Karen [Bliss]- Trudy's ... sister [Pauline Hoffmann] - Trudy's mother [Mrs Gertrude Hoffmann]". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Red Cross".
Places as mentioned: "Berkeley - England".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Spivacke, Harold. [1940]/12/31 (Dec 31) Photocopy telegram to Arthur Bliss ("Mr. Arthur Bliss") : "Kroll reports third movement not received" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address from: Library of Congress Music Division Coolidge Foundation. 
Address to: University of California Department of Music Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "third movement". [String quartet no. 1]
Names as mentioned: "[William] Kroll"
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/01/[02] [postmark] Photocopy telegram to Harold Spivacke ("Harold Spivacke") : "Have made inquiry here third movement should have arrived" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address to: Library of Congress WashDC.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "third movement" [String quartet no. 1] Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Spivacke, Harold. 1941/01/03 (January 3, 1941) Photocopy telegram to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "Third movement arrived in New York a few days ago" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address from: Library of Congress Music Division Coolidge Foundation. 
Address to: University of California Department of Music Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "third movement" [String quartet no. 1]
Places as mentioned: "New York".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. [1941/01/13?] Photocopy telegram to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge") : "Best wishes for success of your concert...". Address from: Berkeley, California. 
Address to: New York Public Library, 5 and 47 Sts, c/o Carleton Sprague Smith.
    Probably for the first performance of the first three-movement version of the String quartet in the New York Public Library on 13th January 1941. Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/01/31 (Jan 31st) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring Street, Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the last movement of my quartet is nearly finished... in the meantime I am asking him to send me the other 3 back for slight revision before the next performance". 
Names as mentioned: "[William] Kroll - Frank Bridge's death". 
Places as mentioned: "New York".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. [1941]/02/12 (Feb 12th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Harold Spivacke ("Mr Spivacke") : "I am anxious to get back the score and parts of my quartet in order to make some revisions before the next performance" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my quartet" [String quartet no. 1]
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte Quartet".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/02/20 (Feb 20th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring Street, Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I have completed the quartet"  [String quartet no. 1]
Names as mentioned: "Dr Spivacke". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novello Music Publishers".
Places as mentioned: "London".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Spivacke, Harold. 1941/02/21 (February 21, 1941) Photocopy A.L. to Arthur Bliss ("Mr. Arthur Bliss") : "I regret that the score and parts of your quartet was already being photostated when your letter arrived" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address to: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your quartet" [String quartet no. 1] Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/02/26 (Feb 26th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") : "Many thanks for your note and generosity. Of course you have sole rights of performance for one year and I shall be proud to have the MS join your collection in Washington" / signed "Arthur" Address from: 2632 Warring Street, Berkeley, California.
    Places as mentioned: "Washington". Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. [1941]/02/26 (Feb 26th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Harold Spivacke ("Dr Spivacke") : "I hope to send the fourth movement score and parts to you next Monday" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring St. Berkeley Calif.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "fourth movement" [String quartet no. 1]
Names as mentioned: "Coolidge - Pro Arte". 
Places as mentioned: "Berkeley".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Spivacke, Harold. 1941/03/03 (March 3, 1941) Photocopy A.L. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "By now you must have received your manuscript which we sent several days ago" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address to: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your quartet" [String quartet no. 1]
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte Quartet".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. [1941]/03/15 (March 15th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Harold Spivacke ("Dr Spivacke") : "I understand that the Pro Arte have the original parts of the first 3 movements and the new parts of the 4th movement" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California. 
Address to: Division of Music Library of Congress Washington D.C.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "3 movements...4th movement" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte [Quartet] - Brosa [Quartet]". 
Places as mentioned: "Madison".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Spivacke, Harold. 1941/03/19 (March 19, 1941) Photocopy T.L. to Arthur Bliss ("Mr. Bliss") : "We are sending to the Pro Arte Quartet the parts of the new version of your quartet" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address to: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your quartet" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte Quartet".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/04/09 (April 9th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge ("Elizabeth") : "I wish you could have been present at the concert last night..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 2632 Warring Street, Berkeley, California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my quartet" [String quartet no. 1]  
Names as mentioned: "The Pro Arte [Quartet] ".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1980's.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/04/09 (April 9th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Harold Spivacke ("Dr Spivacke") : "My quartet had a great success last night at the first of the chamber concerts here" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 2632 Warring Street Berkeley California. 
Address to: Library of Congress Washington.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my quartet" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte [Quartet] ".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Spivacke, Harold. 1941/04/16 (April 16, 1941) Photocopy of T.L. to Arthur Bliss ("Mr Arthur Bliss") : "I am very pleased to hear that your quartet was such a great success on the occasion of its first performance in California" / signed "Harold Spivacke". Address to: University of California Department of Music Berkeley California.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your quartet" [String quartet no. 1] 
Names as mentioned: "Pro Arte [Quartet] ". 
Places as mentioned: "California - England".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/04 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 131] From: Hotel Roosevelt, Madison Avenue at 45th Street, New York N.Y.
       
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/07 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 132] From: King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Canada
    Names as mentioned: "Donald Manson – Eva Gauthier – Prime Minister – Scott – Naylor – Brocklington – T.S. Eliot – V.W. [Ralph Vaughan Williams] – Bushnell – Schulhoff "
Other music as mentioned: "Beethoven quartet".
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/11 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 133] From: King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Canada & Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, en route Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
    Names as mentioned: "Hart House Quartet – Bushnell – Major Murray, boss of CBC "
Other music as mentioned: "Beethoven quartet"
Institutions as mentioned: "Lobero Theatre [Santa Barbara]"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/20 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 134] From: Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
    Names as mentioned "Ralph Hawkes – Whelpdale Maxwell ... head of Steinway & Co – John Grierson – Stephen Leacock"
Places as mentioned: "New York"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/23 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 135] From: University Club of Montreal
    Names as mentioned "Major Murray – French conductor Baudet – Farquharson"
Places as mentioned: "Mission Canyon"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/05/28 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 137] From: University Club of Montreal
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Things to come"
Names as mentioned "Dorothy Thompson"
Places as mentioned: "McGill University"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/06/04 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 137] From: University Club of Montreal
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Things to come"
Names as mentioned "Douglas Clarke, who is the Albert Elkus of McGill University"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/06/10 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 137] "... this is my 5th day on board at an Eastern Canadian port ..." From: Canadian Legion Ward Services
       
Bliss, Arthur 1941/07/11 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 141] "... From: BBC, London
       
Bliss, Arthur 1941/07/27 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 142] "... From: BBC, London
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my 4tet [String quartet no. 1] – had a shot at a tune for a fine old Welsh Hymn that Megan Lloyd George sent me to have set"
Names as mentioned: "Myra Hess – Scott Goddard – Peggy & Bridges[-Adams] - Perry of Novello’s – Griller [Quartet]
Places/Institutions as mentioned: "Albert Hall – Proms – Queen’s Hall – Savile Club – Badingham"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/08/31 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 143] "... From: Savile Club, 69 Brook Street, W.1
    Bliss music as mentioned:  "my oboe 5tet" [Oboe quintet]
Names as mentioned: "Leon Goossens – Wadsworths – Adrian Boult – Ogilvy – [Stephen] Spender – Lawrence translation of the Odyssey – Bridges"
Places/Institutions as mentioned: "Evesham – Birmingham – Manchester – Buxton"
 
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/09/08 Photocopy of telegram to Albert Elkus ("Albert Elkus") : "Please cable me B.B.C. six questions from students" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address to: Music Department, University of California.
    Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C.". Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/09/08 (8th September 1941) Photocopy of T.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "I have been asked to take part in a series of broadcasts to America entitled 'At your request' [two copies of one marked 'sent by sea']" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C., Broadcasting House, London, W.1. 
Address to: Music Department University of California.
    Names as mentioned: "Charles [Cushing] - Elizabeth [Elkus] – Dr. Deutsch". Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Elkus, Albert. 1941/09/16 (September 16, 1941) Photocopy of typed transcript of cable to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "Schliemann asks what are English composers doing... Ralston asks... Tullis asks...". Address from: Music Dept. University of California. 
Address to: B.B.C. London England.
    Names as mentioned: "Schliemann - Ralston – Tullis [three students at Berkeley?]". Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1941/10/10 (Oct 10th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "One has to thank you for all your kindness during my visit - it was one of the most pleasurable and exciting years of my musical life... Thank you so much for making my broadcast possible... here is a copy of the script" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London, W1.
    Names as mentioned: "Elizabeth [Elkus] - Trudy [Bliss] - R.O. Morris – [Franz] Liszt – [Hector] Berlioz". Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur 1941/10/27 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 144] "... From: Savile Club, 69 Brook Street, W.1
    Bliss music as mentioned:  "my oboe 5tet" [Oboe quintet]
Names as mentioned: "Stephen & Natasha Spender – Alan Bush and the Labour Chorus – Miss Kallin – Robert & Nora Nichols – two men one who edits Horizon [Cyril Connolly or Peter Watson]"
Other music as mentioned: "Mozart concerto"
Places/Institutions as mentioned: "Rye"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/11/06 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 145] "... From: B.B.C., London
    Bliss music as mentioned:  "I conduct my [Piano] concerto in Scotland with ... Shulamith Shafir ... then a Hallé Concert with Solomon playing the Concerto ... then the Song Cycle (I now call is Music to 7 American Poems) in the Wigmore Hall with William Parsons, then again to Scotland for Things to come ... later to Cambridge to conduct Introduction & allegro & Colour symphony, & to Oxford to hear Watson Forbes & Irene Kohler play Viola sonata"
Other music/works as mentioned: "Bridges Adams writing about Macbeth"
 
Bliss, Arthur. [1941-1943]/12/19 (Dec 19th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Leslies Heward ("Leslie") : "I am very sorry that the negotiations to engage you for a symphony concert have been so undignified ..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: B.B.C., London
    Places as mentioned: "Bedford" Provenance: Photocopy of British Library MS.Mus.134 A, supplied 1996/02/01
Bliss, Arthur 1941/12/21 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 146] "... From: B.B.C., London
    Bliss music as mentioned:  "I conducted Colour symphony Introduction & allegro"
Other music as mentioned: "Walton taking the second half"
Names as mentioned: "Pauline ... Walter [Hoffman] – Paddy Hadley – [William] Walton, [Constant] Lambert, Alan Rawsthorne"
 
Bliss, Arthur 1941/12/29 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 146] "... From: Badingham Old Rectory, Woodbridge
    Names as mentioned: "Nancy [Farquharson] – Peggy [Bridges Adams] – Ursula Elliott"  
Bliss, Arthur. [1941-43] A.L.S. to Ernest John Moeran ("Jack") : "A gorgeous work - full of poetry and passion and a lovely line throughout" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: Savile Club 69 Brook Street W1.
    Names as mentioned: "A gorgeous work". Provenance: Bought from Sotheby's 1983/11/17.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/01/16 (16th January, 1942) T.L.S. to Ulric Nisbet ("Wigs") : "Thank you very much for your booklet which I am glad to have and agree with completely" / signed "Thomas". Address from: B.B.C., Broadcasting House, London. 
Address to: 55, Belgrave Road, S.W1.
      Provenance: Ulric Nisbet via Lady Bliss 1985/05/03.
Bliss, Arthur. [1942]/03/17 (March 17th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "On May 1st I shall have been in the B.B.C. a year... I am writing to ask you whether the University would care to have my services again" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London, W.1.
    Names as mentioned: "my family" [Trudy, Barbara & Karen Bliss] 
Insitutions inferred: [Music Department, University of California, Berkeley]
Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/02/06 (6th February 1942) T.L.S. to Ruth Gipps ("Miss Gipps") : "This is just to let you know that Mr. Leslie Bridgewater ...". / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London, W.1. 
Address to: 1 Preston Place, Richmond Surrey
    Names as mentioned: "Mr. Leslie Bridgewater, conductor of the Salon Orchestra, B.B.C, Evesham"
Other music as mentioned: "your "Kensington Gardens Suite" [i.e.by Ruth Gipps]
Provenance: Ruth Gipps, December 1995/09/12
Bliss, Arthur. [1942]/03/17 (March 17th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "On May 1st I shall have been in the B.B.C. a year... I am writing to ask you whether the University would care to have my services again" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London, W.1.
    Names as mentioned: "my family" [Trudy, Barbara & Karen Bliss] 
Insitutions inferred: [Music Department, University of California, Berkeley]
Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/03/23 (March 23rd) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "I'm away helping Radio News Reel at Aldenham (Ye Gods!) on Tuesday night - but shall be here on Wednesday when I shall command you to a talble & bottel...1/ Despairing of the B.B.C. being conclusive... I wrote 10 days ago to the President of the University of California offering my services again... BUT To-day I received official invitation to be Director of Music B.B.C...." / signed "A. B.". Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W1.
    Names as mentioned: "my Trio [Trudy, Barbara & Karen Bliss] - president of the University of California". 
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C. – [Music Department] University of California [Berkeley] - British Council - Pilgrim Trust".
Places as mentioned: "Aldenham - San Fransisco".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/03/28 (1942 MAR 28) Western Union Cable to Albert Elkus ("Professor Elkus") : "Please postpone discussion of contents of confidential airmail till second letter comes" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address to: Music Department, University California.
      Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur. [1942]/04/02 (April 2nd) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "Since I wrote to you the letter which my cable asked you to take no action on, I have been offered and have felt bound to accept the Directorship of Music in the B.B.C." / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W.1.
    Names as mentioned: "Elizabeth [Elkus]". 
Insitutions as mentioned: B.B.C.
Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur. [1942?]/04/05 (April 5th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "I have a letter from my Trudy dated Feb 27th in which she says 'Did you get a letter from Albert long ago saying he could give you a job here" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W.1.
    Names as mentioned: "Trudy". 
Insitutions inferred: [Music Department, University of California, Berkeley]
Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur 1942/05/26 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 156] "... photo of me is on the way, taken for a tribute to Russia’ book Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W.1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I have just ... conducted the Hallé in Things to come – The Grillers play our 4tet [String quartet no. 1]"
Names as mentioned: "Karen – Barbara – Wadsworths"
Other works as mentioned: "I bought a new picture of his [Edward Wadsworth] a lovely seascape with fascinating objects"
 
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/06/08 (8th June, 1942) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Serge Koussevitsky ("Mr. Koussewitsky") : "I was so pleased to get your message of greetings through Benjamin Britten on his safe arrival in this country" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: The B.B.C. Broadcasting House London W1. 
Address to: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston, Massachussetts.
    Names as mentioned: "Benjamin Britten". 
Places as mentioned: "Boston".
Provenance: Library of Congress 1987/08/10.
Bliss, Arthur 1942/06/14 [Letter to Trudy, quoted in As I remember, p. 158] "...  I now have a ‘personal assistant’ as well as my Miss Elliott, Peter Montgomery" Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W.1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "private showing of a new film from Russia at which my ‘Fanfare for Heroes’ is used"
Names as mentioned: "[Ursula] Elliott – Peter Montgomery"
 
Church, Richard. 1942?/07/17? A.S. postcard to Arthur Bliss ("Bliss") : "I have been struggling with my mind and emotions since that great experience last night: for the impact of your work has affected me so deeply" / signed "Richard Church".
[postcard annotated by A.B.] 'on hearing the records of the piano concerto with Solomon playing’ [dated by Lady Bliss ’1942’]
Address from: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 10/13 Bedford St. London WC2.
    Other music as mentioned: "Will you accept a copy of my new poem" [AB: 'Twentieth-Century Psalter']. Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942?/07/18 (July 18th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Richard Church ("Church") : "That was extraordinarily kind of you to exchange tomahawks with me" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street, W1.
      Provenance: University of Texas at Austin via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/08/15 (15th August 1942) T.L. (signed by secretary) to Ruth Gipps ("Miss Gipps") : "I am afraid that the disbanding of the Salon Orchestra has been the cause of the delay over your suite "Kensington Gardens" / signed "Arthur Bliss p.p. LE". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London, W.1. 
Address to: 1 Preston Place, Richmond Surrey
    Names as mentioned: "Mr. [Leslie] Bridgewater - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool"
Other music as mentioned: "suite 'Kensington Gardens'" [by Ruth Gipps]
Provenance: Ruth Gipps, December 1995/09/12
Bliss, Arthur. 1942/11/17 (17th November, 1942) T.L.S. to Katharine Goodson ("Miss Goodson") : "I was delighted to get your and to know that you have decided to play in public again" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London W1. 
Address to: Greenlands, Rottingdean, Sussex.
    Names as mentioned: "Sir Henry Wood". Provenance: Bought from Maggs Bros. 1981/04/03.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/02/15 (15th February 1943) T.L.S. to Mansel Thomas ("Mansel Thomas") : "I listened to your sensitive songs on Saturday" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House London W1. 
Address to: Cardiff.
    Other music as mentioned: "Songs" / [Mansel Thomas] 
Names as mentioned: "Francis Russell".
Provenance: Megan Thomas via Trust.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/07/20 (July 20th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "I have been asked to write a new ballet for Sadlers Wells, and have been given the subject Miracle in the Gorbals (the worst slum in Glasgow)" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, [Bourton, Dorset - crossed out] Wincanton, Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Miracle in the Gorbals". 
Names as mentioned: "Peggy - Trudy". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Sadlers Wells Ballet".
Places as mentioned: "Glasgow - Gorbals - Badingham".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/08/01 (Aug 1st) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Thank you for your welcome letter. I am indeed sorry about the gout - I know it is a complaint dignified... I enclose a rather bare and crude scenario of my new ballet... I have written about half Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset [Bourton, Dorset - crossed out].
    Bliss music as mentioned: "[Miracle in the] Gorbals". 
Names as mentioned: "[Robert] Helpmann - Karen – Trudy [Bliss] – Peg [Bridges Adams]".
Places as mentioned: "the Broads [Norfolk]".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/08/16 (Aug 16th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Could Trudy and I come to you for a few days from Saturday Sept. 2nd that would suit us admirably... 2/3 of the ballet is written, and I hope that all will be finished in draft before I come" / signed "Arthur" Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset [Bourton, Dorset - crossed out].
    Bliss music as mentioned: "2/3 of the ballet" [Miracle in the Gorbals]
Names as mentioned: "Karen". 
Places as mentioned: "the Broads [Norfolk] - Liverpool St.".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/08/31 (Thursday) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Yesterday we were all set for a lovely visit to London? and Badingham. Yesterday evening one of Karen's friends in Pen Pits, a little girl cut her foot badly... This means Trudy staying on" / sig Address from: Savile Club, 69, Brook Street W1.
    Names as mentioned: "Karen - Trudy - Peggy". 
Places as mentioned: "Badingham - Pen Pits - London".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1943/09/09 (9th September 1943) T.L.S. to Katharine Goodson ("Miss Goodson") : "I am delighted that you are playing the Grieg Concerto at St. Athens on the 19th" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: B.B.C. Broadcasting House, London W1. 
Address to: Ripley, Bromley, Kent.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my concerto". 
Other music as mentioned: "the Grieg [Piano] Concerto".
Provenance: Bought from Maggs Bros. 1981/04/03.
Bliss, Howard. [1943/09/23] (Thursday evening) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("A") : "The concerto has just finished - I listened to it at home..." [probably the broadcast on Thusday 23rd Septembe 1943 (see Radio Times)] Address from: 31, Collingham Road, London S.W.5.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the concerto". Other music as mentioned: "Scherezade - Thamar - Islamey". 
Names as mentioned: "Solomon - Hitler - Enid - Duddle [Woodfoorde] (Housekeeper at Holland Park) - Brahms - Grieg - Britten - Faure - Duparc - Balakirev - Rachmaninov".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
       
       
Bliss, Arthur. [1943]/12/26 (Dec 26th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "I was delighted to get your letter... It has been, as you can well imagine, a superb Christmas for the Bliss family - all together once more" / signed "Arthur (Bliss)". Address from: 22 Harcourt House, Cavendish Square, W.1. [on East Heath Lodge paper].
    Names as mentioned: "Barbara - Karen - Trudy - Elizabeth - the children - Stricklen - the Boydens [David & Ruth Boyden] - the Lawtons [Edward & Helena Lawton] - the Cushings [Charles and Pignette Cushing]- Petrays - Bud & Mildred [Bronson] - Sproud". Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981/07.
Johnson, Basil. 1944/03/02 (March 2. 44) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "It is years since a word has passed between us! But last night I was deeply interested in and thrilled by your work" / signed "Basil Johnson". Address from: Judges Lodgings Wells Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the work" [Morning heroes, broadcast on March 1st, with BBC Choral Society. BBC Symphony Orchestra. Orator, Valentine Dyall. Conductor, Sir Adrian Boult]
Names as mentioned: "Kennard [Bliss] - Yehudi [Menuhin] - Victor Hely Hutchinson". Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C.".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Boult, Adrian. 1944/04/05 (April 5th 1944) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "At our Departmental Meeting yesterday, to which Nicholls came, we all agreed that we must send you a letter specifically from that Meeting about your retirement" / signed "Adrian". Address from: Broadcasting House, London, W.1. 
Address to: 22, Harcourt House, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Names as mentioned: "[Sir Basil] Nicholls". 
Places as mentioned: "United States - London - California".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Nichols, Robert. 1944/04/20 (20/4/44) A.L.S. to Gertrude Bliss ("Mrs Bliss") : "The little book on British Birds, of which I spoke to you, is - The Observer’s Book of British Birds" / signed "Robert Nichols". Address from: 12, Newnham Terrace, Cambridge. 
Address to: 22 Harcourt House, Cavendish Square London W1.
    Other music as mentioned: "The Observer’s Book of British Birds" by Benson S. Vere.
Names as mentioned: "W.H. Hudson - Karen".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Shaw, George Bernard. 1944/04/30 (30/4/1944) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "Are you a copyright expert and a man of business?.. Always hold on to your rights like grim death" / signed "G. Bernard Shaw". Address from: Ayot St Lawrence Welwyn Herts.
    Bliss music inferred: Caesar and Cleopatra (film)
Other music as mentioned: "Peer Gynt [by Eduard Grieg]". 
Names as mentioned: "[Gabriel] Pascal". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Society of Authors, Playwrights, and Composers".
[Published in As I remember, p. 166]
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Shaw, George Bernard. 1944/05/07 (7th May 1944) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur Bliss") : "In Heaven's name, no Egyptian music. It would not even be sham Egyptian: it would be like sham Aida" : "[Bliss withdrew from the project before completion and Georges Auric provided the music]" / signed "G.B.S.". Address from: Ayot St Lawrence Welwyn Herts.
    Bliss music inferred: Caesar and Cleopatra (film)
Other music as mentioned: "Messiah [Handel] - Figaro [Mozart] - Don Giovanni [Mozart] - The Magic Flute [Mozart] - L'Etoile du Nord [Meyerbeen]". 
Names as mentioned: "Beethoven – [Gabriel] Pascal - Meyerbeer - Bizet - Gounod - Holst - Schickaneder [=Emanuel Schikaneder]". 
[Published in As I remember, p. 167]
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1944/05/12 (May 12th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Yesterday afternoon I lay on the sofa in comfort and read 'The British Theatre'. How good it is!" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Caesar and Cleopatra... film version". 
Other works as mentioned: "The British Theatre" [by William Bridges Adams]
Names as mentioned: "Peggy [Bridges Adams]".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Hartley, Fred. 1944/06/06 (6th June, 1944) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I hope you will like this first edition of the Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes which I picked up" / signed "Fred Hartley". Address from: National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, Whitehall SW1. 
Address to: 22 Harcourt House, 19 Cavendish Square W1.
      Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1944/07/25 (July 25th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Following my full orchestral letters with a flute cadenza I enclose this letter from Sackville-West who is obviously going to stay with Elizabeth Bowen..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your [Bridges-Adams] book". 
Names as mentioned: "Elizabeth Bowen – [Edward] Sackville-West".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1944/10/15 (Oct 15th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Richard Church ("Richard") : "Thank you very much for sending me the poem on Nijmegen Bridge" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "do come and see the ballet" [Miracle in the Gorbals] 
Other work as mentioned: "Nijmegen Bridge". [by Richard Church]
Provenance: University of Texas at Austin via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1944/11/01 (Nov 1st) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "The ballet has settled into a really great success. I went about the 5th performance to the back of the dress circle to watch, and the company has really got together, moving like a complex machine ... the killing at the end is too long & brutal..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Miracle in the Gorbals". 
Names as mentioned: "C[onstant] Lambert – [Robert] Helpmann". 
Places as mentioned: "Badingham".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Nichols, Robert. 1944/12/12 (12/12/44) A.L.S. to Gertrude Bliss ("Trudy") : "We grown-ups are past this sort of thing" / signed "Robert N". Address from: 12 Newnham Terrance Cambridge. 
Address to: 22 Harcourt House Cavendish Square London W1.
      Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1945 
(Sunday)
Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "I enclose my own pencilled sketch of the new ballet founded on an idea given to Helpmann, who is producing it..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "new ballet" [Adam Zero] 
Names as mentioned: "[Robert] Helpmann – 'Helpmann's friend' [Michael Benthall] -- [Wolfgang von] Goethe".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1945]/03/26 (March 26th) A.L.S. to G.A.M. Wilkinson ("Sir") : "I send you back the corrected draft programme" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 22 Harcourt House 19 Cavendish Square W1. 
Address to: Town Hall Cheltenham.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Miracle in the Gorbals - March 'the Phoenix'". Provenance: Bought from Henry Bristow 1983.12.
Bliss, Arthur. 1945/06/25 (March 26th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Clarence Raybould ("Clary": "... About the Checkmate Dances, if you do them again, as I hope you willI (that being the most convincing performance I have yet had of them) ..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22 Harcourt House 19 Cavendish Square W1. 
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Checkmate dances". Provenance: Central Music Library, Royal Marines, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, 16/1/2003.
Priestley, J.B. 1945/08/01 (August 1st 1945) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I enclose a very rough synopsis of the opera plot" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor, Chillerton Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "opera plot" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1945/08/12 (August 12th 1945) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am glad that you find the first glance of the treatment quite promising" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "opera" [The Olympians]
Other works as mentioned: "The High Toby" [lay by J.B. Priestley]. 
Names as mentioned: "Alan Keen - Ralph Richardson – [Robert] Donat". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos".
Places as mentioned: "Russia".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1945/08/18 (Aug 18th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "One thing we must decide early is who are to be the principals (4tet)" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians] 
Places as mentioned: "London - Russia".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1945/08/20 (August 20th 1945) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "We must be careful, however, with so many characters, not to disperse the interest" / signed "Jack". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton Isle of White.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Places as mentioned: "Russia".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1945/08/24 (Aug 24) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Yes - you are absolutely right - let us put the main emphasis on the humans" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Mozart".
Places as mentioned: "Billingham Manor".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1945/09/05 (5th Sept. 1945) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Here is a synopsis of the story, embodying everything we have discussed, with far more for the two chief women to do" / signed "Jack". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "synopsis of the story" [The Olympians]
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos - Peters".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1945]/12/12 (Dec 12th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "My very good friends Mr & Mrs Christopher Salmon, of whom I have already written to you, leave to-morrow for the States" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1. 
Address to: Prof Albert Elkus, Music Dept. University of California.
    Names as mentioned: "Mr & Mrs Christopher Salmon - G.T. Adams - Elizabeth". Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Bliss, Arthur. [1945]/12/29 (Dec 29th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "A fine example of the Elkus Press arrived to astound and delight us. What a pair of craftsmen you two boys are!" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Names as mentioned: "G.T. Adams - Christopher Salmon – Bud [Bronson]". Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981/07.
Bliss, Arthur. 1946/01/06 (Jan 6th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "Your welcome letters demand a long exhilarating and generously stylish reply - and here am I just scratching a thank you..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Names as mentioned: "Trudy". Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1946/01/27 (Jan 27th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Benjamin Britten ("Benjamin") : "I went this last week to the National Gallery to hear the Zorians play your second quartet. I must write and tell you what a splendid adventure I found it... Sincere shouts of Bravo!" / signed "Arthur" Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square, W1.
    Other music as mentioned: "second quartet" [String quartet no. 2, op.  / Benjamin Britten]. 
Names as mentioned: "the Zorians" [Zorian String Quartet]
Provenance: Britten Estate 1983 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1946/04/ ] (Friday) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I am down here at work on the opera" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera". [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Trudy".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/04/24 (April 24th 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am delighted you have made such an enthusiastic start, and are finding the words easy to work with" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the Opera" [The Olympians]
Places as mentioned: "Switzerland - Albany".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/06/25 (25th June 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "After being held up for several days by various odd jobs, I am now back at work on the opera" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B.4, Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/06/29 (June 29th 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I enclose Act Two scenes up to and including entrance of Mercury" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two" [The Olympians] 
Other works as mentioned: "My novel Bright Day"
Names as mentioned: "Trudy".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/07/19 (19th July 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I have now finished Act Two and my secretary is making a copy for you" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B4 Albany, Piccadilly W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two" [The Olympians]
Other works as mentioned: "Ever Since Paradise - my Inspector play [An inspector calls]".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/08/08 (August 8th 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I was glad to do what I could for Barbara and I am sorry it isn't more" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two" [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "Pomeroy asked us to… Don Pasquale". [Donizetti]
Names as mentioned: "Barbara - Martin Lawrence - Trudy".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Brooke, Harold. 1946/08/09 (Aug. 9 '46) A.L.S. to Gertrude Bliss ("Mrs. Bliss") : "There is nothing preventing us sending the music direct from here, and we have done so. I suppose it would be awfully rude to ask..." / signed "Harold L. Brooke". Address from: Novello & Co., 160, Wardour Street, London, W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The opera begins to be spelt with caps" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1946/08/10?]] A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley : "... and tells us in a short aria [incomplete, lacking first page]" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "I am glad you liked [Don] Pasquale [Donizetti] - Rossini's Barber [Barbiere di Siviglia]". 
Places as mentioned: "U.S.A. - London".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/08/26 (26th August 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "The work during the last week was absolutely gruelling and I had all this H.G. Wells business on top of it at the last minute" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "…re-do the first part of our Act … Watchman’s scene [Act 2]" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "H.G. Wells - Barbara".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1946]/08/29 (Aug 29th) A.L. incomplete to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I think after the rapid sequence of events in Act I - & the exciting balletic scenes coming later in Act II, that the opening of this second Act should be in the nature of a quiet intermezzo". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act I" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/09/02 (Sept. 2nd 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Fortunately I have been able to make time to re-do the beginning of Act Two" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two [The Olympians] - Men of Two Worlds"
Other works as mentioned: "Ever Since Paradise [Priestley] - An Inspector Calls [Priestley] – the Bach-Beecham thing The Gods Go A-begging ". 
Names as mentioned: "Barbara". 
Places as mentioned: "London - Leeds - Manchester - Leicester - Prague - Vienna - America".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1946]/12/11 (Dec 11th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I am sorry I missed you in London" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcourt House, 19, Cavendish Square W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera". [The Olympians]
Places as mentioned: "Buda Pest [Budapest] - London - Pen Pits".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1946/12/14 (14th December 1946) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I shall not be in town again until January 2nd when I shall be up for two or three days" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act three" [The Olympians]
Institutions as mentioned: "UNESCO"
Places as mentioned: "Paris "
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1946]/12/18 (Dec 18th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Good! I will give you a ring on Jan 2nd late afternoon perhaps you could keep that evening or the 3rd free for me" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 22, Harcout House, 19 Cavendish Square W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "I found a possible Venus in Buda Pest [Budapest]" [The Olympians]
Other calls as mentioned: "the Inspector[calls]" [J.B. Priestley] 
Names as mentioned: "Trudy".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/01/11 (Jan. 11th 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I suggested your coming here next week as I shall be starting on Act III and we would be alone" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act three". [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1947]/01/14 (Jan 14th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Many thanks for the material which is fine - the Jupiter speech gives me plenty of excellent material" / signed "A.B.". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act III" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/01/15 (15th January 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "It is very difficult for me to know which parts of Jupiter's speech at the end of Act 2 lend themselves to being taken up by the chorus" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two" [The Olympians]
Other works as mentioned: "Book of Quotations". 
Places as mentioned: "London".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/01/29 (29th January 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I enclose an amended copy of Act 3 which is now yours to keep" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act 3" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bvszvrmenyi-Nagy, Bela. 1947/02/01 [postmark 1 FEB 1947] Envelope to Arthur Bliss. Address to: 22, Harcourt House, 19 Cavendish Square, W1[forwarded to] Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset.
      Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/04/08 (April 8th 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I have now had time to do, as best I could, without your guidance, the bits and pieces you suggested should be tidied up" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The Gods grow old – The God in Exile – The Gods go by – Passing Gods" – "Banished Gods" [projected titles for The Olympians]
Institutions as mentioned: "UNESCO Theatre Conference".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1947]/04/09 (April 9th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Many thanks - now I am all set. I have made great strides into Act II which is going well" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "our opera – Trudy and I both like 'The Gods go By' better than  … 'The Gods grow Old'’" [The Olympians]
Other works  as mentioned: "Ever Since Paradise" [play by J.B. Priestley]
Names as mentioned: "Trudy". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos".
Places as mentioned: "Covent Garden - Stratford".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/05/23 (23rd May 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I have just signed the contract for the opera. I hope you will accept this as an act of friendship and admiration" / signed "J.B.Priestley". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera". [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Mary [Priestley] - Jane [Preistley] - Steuart Wilson". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Arts Council".
Places as mentioned: "Geneva".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1947/06/15 (June 15th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "by the malice of the telephone you never received my thanks and admiration of the theatre brochure..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset.
    Names as mentioned: "Trudy - Barbara - B. A. - Peggy". 
Places as mentioned: "we have bought a house in London".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1947/09/14] (Wednesday) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I want a little help on the short scene where Lavatte in Act III announces to the unseen crowd of guests... the forthcoming wedding" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, [Bourton, Dorset - crossed out] Wincanton, Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act III" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1947]/11/16 (Nov. 16th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to Jane Priestley ("Jane") : "It is good news to hear that Mary is better... When does Jack come back? I want his help on Act III... unable to get out to hear Milo Sadlo..." / signed "Arthur". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens [on paper headed '22, Harcourt House'].
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act III" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Mary [Priestley]- Jack [J.B. Priestley] - Milo Sadlo [Miloš Sádlo]".
Provenance: Humanities Research Center, University of Texas via Lady Bliss 1992/06/ 04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/12/06 (6th December, 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I shall be down in the Isle of Wight all next week, but shall be up here again the week afterwards" / signed "Jack". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Men of Two Worlds". 
\Other works as mentioned: "[An] Inspector [Calls] [Priestley]". 
Names as mentioned: "Barbara". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Decca".
Places as mentioned: "Mexico City - New York".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1947/12/11 (Dec. 11th 1947) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am glad that Covent Garden is fixed. I enclose a redraft, on the lines you wanted" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Three" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Radio Orchestra, list of players names. 1947/12/26 (Dec. 26th 1947) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Mr Bliss") : "your friends and admirers in Budapest greet you heartily on the occasion of the second performance of your concerto and deeply regret your absence".  
    Bliss music as mentioned: "concerto" [Piano concerto] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/01/06 (6th January 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Many thanks for sending me the Baraza record which we have been playing with great enjoyment" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Baraza [Men of two worlds] - the Opera" [The Olympians]
Other works as mentioned: "I am writing a new play". 
Names as mentioned: "Barbara".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/03/04 (March 4th) A.L.S. to Albert Elkus ("Albert") : "I want first to thank and congratulate the Elkus Press on their superfine Beethoven edition" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "my opera" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Beethoven - Trudy - J.B. Priestley – Elizabeth [Elkus]". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Elkus Press".
Provenance: Elizabeth Elkus 1981.07.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/03/20 (20th March 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I only returned here last night... to find your letter. I enclose a version of the lines you want" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "the Valkyrie [Die Walküre" [Wagner] 
Names as mentioned: "[David] Franklin – [Hans] Hotter - Edith Coates – [Kirsten] Flagstad – [Don] Bradman". 
Institutions as mentioned: "UNESCO Paris".
Places as mentioned: "Covent Garden".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/04/24 (24th April 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I have been going through Acts 1 and 2 correcting the text for the printer" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Places as mentioned: "Ireland".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/04/28 (April 28th 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I agree with Brooke's cast list and have said so" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "1st Act" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Brooke [Peter Brook]". 
Places as mentioned: "Ireland".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/05/05 (May 5th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "To-day at 2.30 I brought down the final slow curtain on a beautifully prized A major chord" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the Act" [The Olympians]
Places as mentioned: "Birmingham".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/05/07 (7th May 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Many thanks for your letter... I am delighted to hear that you have brought down the final curtain" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the Act" [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "Eugene Onegin" [Tchaikovsky]
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C.".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/05/25 (25th May, 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am very glad to know that you have put things right, and I think you are wise to cut the asides" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Tyrone] Guthrie - [David] Webster - [Karl] Rankl". 
Places as mentioned: "Prague".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/05/30 (May 30th 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I enclose some additional verses for the Finale" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "verses for the Finale" [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "Boris [Godunov / Mussorgsky]". 
Names as mentioned: "Thane Parker - [Tyrone] Guthrie - [Peter] Brook". 
Places as mentioned: "Prague".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/06/02 (June 2nd) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Thank you for the new verses. I will get down to them, and I do not think I shall be bothering you any more" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: "the opera". [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Tyrone] Guthrie - [Karl] Rankl – [Enrico] Caruso – [Nellie] Melba – [Ljuba] Welitsch – [Kirsten] Flagstad – [Hans] Hotter - Renato Gigli - Schwarzkopf".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/06/05 (5th June 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I think you will agree that I should not intervene in this purely musical question but of course you can call upon my support at any time" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Other works as mentioned: "On native grounds : [an interpretation of modern American prose literature / by Alfred Kazin (London, 1943)]"
Names as mentioned: "Trudy".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/07/07 (July 7th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I can report a certain amount of progress since I last saw you" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Tyrone] Guthrie - [David] Webster - [Karl] Rankl - Howell Glynn".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/07/10 (10th July 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am glad you are making such good progress" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Elisabeth] Schwarzkopf – [Hugo] Wolf - Maurice Lambert". 
Places as mentioned: "Prague".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/07/10 (July 10th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "the enclosed from Guthrie was rather an unwelcome surprise, after two long sessions with him... I must have given him a completely wrong idea of the opera" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Tyrone] Guthrie - [David] Webster". 
Places as mentioned: "London".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/07/12 (12th July 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I can quite understand that Guthrie's letter was rather a shock to you - and it may well be that he has no confidence in the work" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the work" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Tyrone] Guthrie - Jane - [David] Webster - Brooke [Peter Brook] - Dennis Arundel". 
Other works  as mentioned: "Dangerous Corner" [play by J.B. Priestley].
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1948/10/06 (6th October, 1948) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Here are some possible lines for the Quartet of Gods" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B.4 Albany W1. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens W8.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1948]/10/18 (Oct 18th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Thanks for the additional lines which are a great help" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens W8.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Peter Brooke [Peter Brook]". 
Places as mentioned: "Bradford".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/01/17 (17th January 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I spent a very useful morning yesterday with Brook" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens London W8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "Act Two" [The Olympians] 
Names as mentioned: "[Peter] Brook".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1949]/01/18 (Jan. 18th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Many thanks for your letter - you are the ideal collaborator, always keeping me promptly informed" / signed "A.B.". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8 [on 22 Harcourt House headed paper]
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera" [The Olympians]
Other music as mentioned: "Peter Grimes [Benjamin Britten] – Rosenkavalier [Richard Strauss]". 
Names as mentioned: "[David] Webster". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Boosey & Hawkes".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/01/19 (19th January 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I find Novello's anything but ideal partners... thus I knew nothing about any propsed lowering of the royalty below 10%" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Billingham Manor Chillerton I.W. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the Opera" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "[Peter] Brook". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/02/28 (28th February 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Many thanks for your letter and I am glad to learn that the Contract is to be signed and there has been an agreement about the date of production" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens London W8.
    Names as mentioned: "Peter Brooke [Peter Brook] – Mary [Priestley]". 
Places as mentioned: "London - Copenhagen".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1949]/05/07 (May 7th) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "I got back from Italy to find your new and moving play Summer Day's Dream awaiting me" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens W8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The Olympians - Summer Day's Dream". 
Names as mentioned: "Peter Brooke [Peter Brook] - [David] Webster – [Ljuba] Welitsch". 
Places as mentioned: "Italy - Scandinavia - Vienna".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/05/09 (9th May 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "First, about the music for Summer Day's Dream. This can be quite short of course but should be reasonably easy to play" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: " Summer Day's Dream  - the Opera [The Olympians]". 
Names as mentioned: "[Peter] Brook – [Richard] Wagner - Trudy". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos".
Places as mentioned: "Scandinavia".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. [1949]/06/02 (June 2nd) A.L.S. to J.B. Priestley ("Jack") : "Violin and Oboe normally record very truly, and I advise a good recording of Christopher's tune which I hope to send you shortly" / signed "Arthur". Address from: Pen Pits Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as  mentioned: "Christopher’s tune" [A summer day's dream]
Names as mentioned: "Walter Emery". 
Places as mentioned: "London".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1949/07/[ ] (undated) A.L.S. to Ulric Nisbet ("Wigs") : "Here is where we are, and here is where we hope to see you on your way back to London" / signed "Thomas". Address from: Pen Pits, Pen Selwood, Wincanton, Somerset.
    Places as mentioned: "London - Gillingham". Provenance: Ulric Nisbet via Lady Bliss 1985/05/03.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/07/04 (July 4th 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I have now gone through this libretto, rewriting the descriptions of sets and various stage directions" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos". 
Places as mentioned: "Albany - Covent Garden".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/07/14 (14th July 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I had some talk here last night with Michael Wood, and though his manner is rather dim.... I think his failure to do anything so far must be blamed on Webster" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: B.4 Albany W1.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Michael Wood - [David] Webster". 
Institutions as mentioned: "Novellos".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/08/14 (Aug. 14th 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I quite agree with your reasons for allowing the B.B.C. to broadcast the first night of the opera, and will co-operate any way you please" / signed "Jack". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music inferred: [The Olympians]
Bliss music as mentioned: "the exquisite little tune" [Summer day’s dream]. 
Other music as mentioned: "Last Holiday" [J.B. Prietley] 
Names as mentioned: "[Karl] Rankl - [David] Webster - Michael Wood". 
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C.".
Places as mentioned: "Bradford - London - Covent Garden".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/08/18 (18th August 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I will see that you receive seats for the first night and so leave this entirely to me" / signed "Jack". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight. 
Address to: Pen [Pits] Pitts Pen Selwood Wincanton Somerset.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the whole Opera" [The Olympians]
Institutions as mentioned: "Peters - Novellos". 
Other works as mentioned: "Last Holiday" [J.B. Priestley]
Institutions as mentioned: "Peters - Novellos".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/08/24 (Aug. 24th 1949) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Michael Wood had a nice item in the Times about the opera, but unfortunately it was pushed over... on to the City page" / signed "Jack". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Michael Wood – [Yehudi] Menhuin – [Wilhelm] Furtwangler". 
Places as mentioned: "Royal Albert Hall".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/08/26 (Aug. 26th 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "In reply to your yesterday's you might try this for the Mars chorus" / signed "J.B.P.". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the Mars chorus" [The Olympians] Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1949/09/19 (Sept 19th) A.L.S. to Walter Emery ("Mr Emery") : "I have just seen a copy of the libretto. It looks fine... There are two small changes" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the libretto" [The Olympians]
Names as mentioned: "Mr Brooke [Peter Brook]".
Provenance: Bought from Maggs Bros. 1981/04/03.
Dent, Edward. 1949/11/03 (3 November 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I was sorry not to get more than a glimpse of you at Covent Garden the other night" / signed "Edward Dent". Address from: 17 Cromwell Place London SW7.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "your opera". 
Other music as mentioned: "Cosi fan Tutte [[Mozart] - Carmen [Bizet] - The Bartered Bride [Smetana] - Peter Grimes [Britten] - La Traviata [Verdi] - Die Meistersinger[Wagner]". 
Names as mentioned: "[J.B.] Priestley - [David] Webster – [E.M.] Forster – [Lorenzo] Da Ponte - Verdi - Murray Dickie - Edith Coates - Mozart - Busoni - Offenbach - Douglas Robinson - medieval canti fermi where they sing 'Vi' on Sunday, 'de' on Monday, and 'runt' on Tuesday [Viderunt] - Shirley Russell - [Karl] Rankl - Peter B. – [Charles Villiers] Stanford".
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C.".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1949/11/04 (Friday) A.L.S. to Edward Dent ("Edward") : "I was so pleased and stimulated by your letter... I have sent it straight down to Priestly to study" / signed "Arthur Bliss". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "in our second opera we shall hope to strike a different path". Provenance: Photocopy from the Rowe Library, King's College, 1993/10/01.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/11/07 (Nov. 7th) A.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "I am firmly of the opinion that such major mistakes as it contains are my responsibility and not yours" / signed "Jack". Address from: B.3 Albany W1.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "the opera". 
Names as mentioned: "[Edward J.] Dent – [Ernest] Newman". 
Institutions as mentioned: "B.B.C. - Novellos".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Bliss, Arthur. 1949/11/11 (Nov. 11th) Photocopy of A.L.S. to William Bridges-Adams ("Bridges") : "It is impossible to answer your long keenly punctuated letter about the opera, as it really merits a talk round the fire with drinks and smokes - so much has to be weighed" / signed "Arthur". Address from: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8 [on 22 Harcourt House headed paper].
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The Olympians". 
Names as mentioned: "Priestley - Trudy". 
Places as mentioned: "Ireland".
Provenance: University of Calgary Library 1979 via Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/12/09 (9th December 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "Many thanks for letting me have Dent's book, which I have read. It is excellent but does not help very much with our problems" / signed "Jack". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight. 
Address to: 15, Cottesmore Gardens, W.8.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The Olympians". 
Names as mentioned: "Glynn [Howell]".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.
Priestley, J.B. 1949/12/31 (Dec. 31st 1949) T.L.S. to Arthur Bliss ("Arthur") : "About Opus 2. The subject that keeps coming back to me is the story of a circus proprietor" / signed "Jack". Address from: Brook Hill Brook Isle of Wight.
    Bliss music as mentioned: "The Olympians". 
Other music as mentioned: "Trovatore [Verdi] - Barber [Barbiere di Siviglia  by Rossini]". 
Names as mentioned: "Christopher West - [Peter] Brook - [David] Webster".
Provenance: Lady Bliss 1992/06/04.