In 1956 Sir Arthur Bliss was commissioned
to write two short pieces for use on the newly opened ABC Television service.
The first was a Signature Tune
(moderato maestoso) lasting for some 45 seconds and the second was an Interlude
of 1 minute 15 seconds. Both were arranged for orchestra. The contract was signed on 18 May 1956
shortly after the composer had returned from a concert tour of the Soviet
Union. The same year saw the first
performance of his Meditations on a Theme by John Blow, the Edinburgh Overture, work commencing on
the film score to Seven Waves Away starring
Tyrone Power and Mai Zetterling. On 31
March Arthur Bliss’ daughter Karen had married Christopher Sellick.
The first broadcast of the new TV
station was in the Midlands on 5 May 1956 before the contract for the music had
been signed with the composer. Stewart Craggs in his Arthur Bliss: A Bio-bibliography (1988) states that the first
performance of the Signature Tune and Interlude is unknown. The score is still
in manuscript has not been published.
The Signature Tune has been
uploaded to YouTube,
however the Interlude does not appear to be online yet. It is an attractive
piece that certainly would have added some dash to the opening of the day’s
schedule.
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