Gustav Holst, the English composer, is best known for the very popular 'Planets Suite'. He composed almost 200 other works and had a busy career as a music teacher.
Born: Gustavus Theodore von Holst, 21 Sept 1874, Cheltenham, England He dropped the 'von' in 1918 during the 1st World War as it had German connotations. Grandfather: Gustavus von Holst, harpist, composer and teacher, Riga, Latvia Father: Adolph von Holst, organist, pianist, choirmaster, teacher. Mother: Clara von Holst, a singer - died when he was 8. Stepmother: Mary Thorley Stone Siblings: a sister Wife: Emily Isobel Harrison Children: Imogen, composer, conductor and biographer. Died: 25 May 1934 Cause of death: Heart failure following stomach cancer surgery. Grave: Chichester Cathedral, see findagrave
Works
Output: almost 200 works catalogued Genres: opera, ballet, orchestral suites, folk music, choral, hymns, songs. Influenced by: Grieg, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Vaughan-Williams, Ravel Influenced: Vaughan-Williams, Benjamin Britten Best known works: - The Planet Suite - St.Paul's Suite - Brook Green Suite - The Perfect Fool - Sita - The Hymn of Jesus - A Choral Fantasia
In the Bleak Midwinter - a Tony Palmer full length film
The inner orbit of Gustav Holst
Did a folksong-loving teacher really just happen to write England's most famous classical work? Film-maker Tony Palmer questions the myth of the author of The Planets. Article by Tony Palmer in the Guardian
A fascinating new documentary for the BBC giving a revealing insight into this quiet enigmatic man.
First transmitted 24 April 2011. Read a review here by Jessica Duchen in the Independent
The DVD is now available from Amazon Uk (see right) and will be available from Amazon.com
from June14 2011.
Career:
Educated at Cheltenham Grammar School His father taught him the piano and violin. - age 12 started composing - Studied at the Royal College of Music in London, where he met an became very friendly with fellow student Ralph Vaughan-Williams. - Owing to the increasing pain when playing the piano he learned to play the trombone. This enabled him earn a living by playing in the Rosa Opera Company, an experience he did not like. - Became interested in Hinduism. Learned Sanskrit at University College, London. Composed various works based on translations of Sanskrit texts, including Sita. - Age 31 (1905) appointed Director of Music at St Paul's Girl's School in Hammersmith, London. - 1907 appointed Director of Music at Morley College, an adult education college. He kept these two important teaching posts until he retired. - 1912 during a holiday in Spain he 'discovered' astrology which was to inspire his 'Planets Suite' masterpiece. Astrology and horoscopes was a keen interest for the rest of his life. - 1914 tried to enlist for the World War I but was unsuccessful due to his poor health. However towards the end of the war he got a post as Musical Director at the YMCA and went to Greece and Turkey to tech music to the troops. - 1923 After a fall he retired from teaching and devoted the rest of his life to composing.
Quotes
“Music-making as a means of getting money is hell”
"Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you."
"If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing badly."
"If nobody likes your work, you have to go on just for the sake of the work. And you're in no danger of letting the public make you repeat yourself. Every artist ought to pray that he may not be 'a succes'. If he's a failure he stands a good chance of concentrating upon the best work of which he's capable."
"Music, being identical with heaven, isn't a thing of momentary thrills, or even hourly ones. It's a condition of eternity."
from June14 2011.
