#gustavholst

[whencyclopedia]

Gustav Holst

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was a British composer of Swedish origin most famous for his dramatic orchestral suite The Planets, first performed in public in 1919. Holst also composed several operas, wrote sacred choral works such as The Hymn of Jesus, and was a dedicated collector of folk songs.

Early Life

Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham on 21 September 1874, where his parents, who were of Swedish descent, had set up home. Gustav's father was an organist and piano teacher in Cheltenham. Gustav continued the family interest in music, learning piano and also conducting the local choir. His musical talent shone through, and in 1895, Gustav won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London. The Holst family had only modest means, and the scholarship – won at the second attempt – was a necessity for Gustav to widen his music education. He studied to play the trombone, an instrument he would use to eke out a living, teaching others to play the instrument and performing as part of seaside brass bands and as a member of the orchestra at the Carl Rosa Opera in London.

After graduation, Holst became a general music teacher in London. In 1903, Holst moved to Dulwich where he taught music at a girls' school, a position he would hold until 1920. In 1905, Holst also became the director of music at the St. Paul's School for Music in Hammersmith. Holst was certainly dedicated to teaching; he remained at St. Paul's for the rest of his life, but other teaching positions he held simultaneously included the music directorship at Morley College for Working Men and Women in London (1907-24) and a professorship of music at Reading University. In addition, Holst found time to return and teach composition at the Royal College of Music.

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[whencyclopedfr]

Gustav Holst

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) était un compositeur britannique d'origine suédoise, surtout connu pour sa suite orchestrale dramatique Les Planètes, jouée pour la première fois en public en 1919. Holst composa également plusieurs opéras, écrivit des œuvres chorales sacrées telles que The Hymn of Jesus, et était un grand collectionneur de chansons folkloriques.

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[m-204863]

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best The love that never falters, the love that pays the price The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice And there's another country, I've heard of long ago Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know We may not count her armies, we may not see her King Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace

[schrelloclassic]

Did you know that Jupiter is out now on your music streaming! Have a listen, maybe set it on repeat. Why not playlist it and like it at the same time!? • • • • • #schrelloclassic #classic #jupiter #gustavholst #planets #piano #pianist #classicalmusic #classicalmusicians #spacemusic #classicalpiano #classicalart #cello #strings #musicthatspeaks #musicforthesoul #epicmusic #ivowtotheemycountry #choirmusic #choir #choirchoirchoir #newrelease #newsingle (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cly2uhIqXRy/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nassalidali]

Gustav Holst- The Planets, Op. 32.

just a lil sumn about one of my favourite classical music pieces ✨ 

When Gustav Holst read British astrologer Alan Leo’s book, he realized it wasn’t just about vague fortune telling, but instead turned astrology into a sort of systematic science and examined the psychological attributes of the planets that rule over each of sign’s zodiacs.

Holst was so inspired, he decided to create a suite of musical pieces, each movement based on the emotional vibes of each planet.

He started composing in 1914. It’s written in 7 movements and he gave each of them nicknames (not related to their Roman counterparts):

- Mars THE BRINGER OF WAR. - Venus THE BRINGER OF PEACE. - Mercury THE WINGED MESSENGER. - Jupiter THE BRINGER OF JOLLITY. - Saturn THE BRINGER OF OLD AGE. - Uranus THE MAGICIAN. - Neptune THE MYSTIC.

Holst completed The Planets in 1916, but was only performed for the public in 1920, but then The Planets was shortened as conductors said it was “too radical, too avant-garde for the public to endure in its full length”. 

I for one would kill just to get the chance to sit through the performance in its entirety.

Holst was not happy about this (rightfully so because he structured the piece carefully to suggest the harmonious balance of the solar system!

Let’s take Jupiter as the center point of the piece, then, the movements of the planets on each side of it become mirror images/ opposites of each other:

- Mars motion Neptune static - Venus sublime Uranus vulgar - Mercury is light Saturn is heavy

I think the ordering of the planets parallels the ages of the human kind and that it’s a progression from the youthful brutality in Mars to old age stoicism in Neptune.

Fun Facts:

- Pluto wasn’t discovered until a decade after Holst completed The Planets and even then, he REFUSED to write a part for Pluto, which all worked out fine because in 2006, NASA stripped Pluto of its Planetary status. - Holst also excluded Earth, because it has no astrological significance.

[chicagograss]

Our backyard table. “Snow, on snow, on snow.” Refrain from IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. #inthebleakmidwinter #christinarossetti #gustavholst #chicago #chicagoweather #chicagosnow2021 (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLVqn2cBizO/?igshid=edf3f71v2wo

[flutesncurls]

National Month of Musicianship 11/4- a piece you haven't played but want to. The entire Planets Suite by Gustav Holst but specifically Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity. It's such a beautiful piece and has so much complexity while still seeming very simple and I love it. .. .. #music #musician #workhardplayhard #practice #nationalmonthofmusicianship #jupiterbringerofjollity #holst #gustavholst #theplanets #theplanetssuite https://www.instagram.com/p/B4dB3UdAG5-/?igshid=m468qjsv3yki

[galaxymusicnotes-blog]

Jupiter Theme, "The Bringer of Jollity" from The Planets by Gustav Holst arranged for Level 5 (advanced) piano solo by Mizue Murakami from Galaxy Music Notes. Its sheet music available from Galaxy Music Notes. (The arrangements for other easier levels & the most difficult Jupiter - complete version, also available) 

[futureteachercurrentnerd-blog]

Music makes me happy 🎶

[ghostcultmagazine]

Diamond Head – Live at The Robin 2, Bilston, UK

  Situated near the heart of The Black Country - an area in the West Midlands which gave birth to bands such as Judas Priest and perennial Christmas faves Slade - The Robin 2 in Bilston tonight plays host to other local heroes, Diamond Head. Formed in 1976, about ten miles away in Stourbridge, Diamond Head sat proudly at the forefront of the legendary New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, going onto inspire many up and coming bands, the most famous of which shall remain safely nameless for the purpose of this piece.

Opening this close-to-hometown show are Dead Agents from nearby Walsall. Microphone problems render their opening song virtually ineffective, but the smiling and enthusiastic act don't let it bother them, and they soon hit their stride with a succession of catchy hard rock tracks. Another local act, Fires That Divide from just down the road in sunny Sedgley, seem a little lethargic in comparison.  The band shows off some simple but solid riffs, but seems to lack energy as vocalist Kirk Shuttleworth struggles through the set with throat problems - a supportive crowd do their part though, shouting encouragement, and things do improve as they go on.

A noticeable swelling in crowd size heralds tonight's main event. The dance floor, previously sparse - bordering on unoccupied - is now filled with activity, the expectant, and largely middle-aged, crowd getting ready to throw their grey hair and bald patches around and party like it's 1979. To be fair, the venue isn't filled entirely with quinquagenarian paunches and receding hairlines; there's also a noticeable number younger folk here to appreciate some good old fashioned Heavy Metal as well.

Guitarist Brian Tatler is the sole remaining member of the original band, and as he follows the others onto the stage to 'Mars, The Bringer of War' by Gustav Holst, the crowd respond with rapturous applause. When the classical music ends, the metal begins, and the five-piece tear into 'Shout at the Devil' from their superb self-titled album from 2016. With his shiny head and ginger beard, singer Rasmus Bom Andersen is clearly having the time of his life, whipping up the crowd, attempting to tease Tatler into singing before playfully snatching the microphone away from him each time, and making sure everyone in the vicinity knows just who wrote that song.

Apparently not allowed to play anything from their upcoming, as yet untitled new album, tracks from their last record such as 'Diamonds', 'Bones' and 'Set My Soul on Fire' are greeted with as much enthusiasm as the likes of 'Borrowed Time', ‘Call Me', 'In the Heat of the Night', and 'To Heaven From Hell', while an extra loud chorus of approval goes up for classics like 'It's Electric', 'The Prince', 'Helpless', 'Lightning to the Nations', and the 1980 single, 'Shoot Out The Lights'. But of course, 'Am I Evil?' is the one that everyone has come to hear, and the band know this only too well, ripping through it with seemingly more purpose than in years. Coming back on stage for an encore of 'Sucking My Love', the band eventually leaves the stage to thunderous applause. “Are you evil?” screams Bom towards the end of the show. It doesn't take a genius to work out the answer. WORDS AND PHOTOS BY GARY ALCOCK Read the full article

[fugandhi]

‘89 Star of Indiana’s “Fantasia on The Dargason”

I’ve always enjoyed this moment in Star of Indiana’s 1989 show (Yeah, Star of Indiana IS MY JAM). Absolutely impressed with how well this corps managed to pull this off.

The balance of precision & power is totally worth mentioning (especially when noting the demand of this particular movement in Gustav Holst’s work). This is definitely some complex music (combining intertwining melodies with ‘Greensleeves’ as it leads up to the climax of the piece). Another absolutely inspiring effort from the one-and-only Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps.

🎶💖🎊

🎺🇬🇧🥁

🥳🎉👏

[majapyon]

9月21日生まれの音楽家 ホルスト レナード・コーエン #音楽家の誕生日 #似顔絵 #gustavholst #holst #leonardcohen #musicians #musiciansbirthday #illustration https://www.instagram.com/p/CFYl6Lil5V6/?igshid=cwpew5vzyzjm

[maclick]

Gustav Holst - The Planets 1973 (1980 remastered) Yes I know it sounds like Star Wars, this was some of the placement music Lucas had in the film. #gustavholst #planets #classicalmusic #remastered #vinylcollectionpost https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZC6CWJvsU/?igshid=1dgu4ydaaty0p

[altoecko]

Album on table! https://youtu.be/Isic2Z2e2xs https://open.spotify.com/album/0HLsGkiIn4ifIq062XrOxp?si=M9JlUptmSNigYDpTGGmDRA https://www.discogs.com/Holst-Steinberg-Boston-Symphony-Orchestra-The-Planets/release/1460989 #dieplaneten #theplanets #gustavholst #bostonsymphonyorchestra #williamsteinberg #orchestra #symphony #classical #1971 #the70s #70s #the60s #classicalmusic #music #space #spaceart #spacemusic #deutschegrammophonrecords #deutschegrammophon #vinyl #peterwandrey #vinyligclub #vinylgram #vinyljunkie #vinylrecords #licoricepizza #instawax #instavinyl #nowspinning #nowplaying (at Peachtree Corners, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B98VxbFJX0r/?igshid=gay0ynw3bjrf

[mikulski-art]

#AYOStarsandPlanets #GustavHolst #Planets #Koszalin #Poland #DariuszMikulski #Maestro #MarikaStaszewska #Concertmaster #PawelGajdzis #Manager #Amber #Youth #Orchestra - can’t wait to see you in February #Concert!! Thank you very much & #Congratulations!! You are great!! #MerryXMass :) ❤️❤️❤️ Foto by @TomaszTukajski www.mikulski.me (hier: CK105)