Gustav Holst Biography Gustav Holst was born on
Gustav Holst
Biography Gustav Holst was born on September 21 st 1874 in Cheltenham, England. He was the first of two children to Adolph and Clara von Holst. His father was an accomplished pianist and teacher of piano, his mother was student of Adolph when they first met. After the birth of his brother Emil, Holst’s mother died soon after when Gustav was only eight. Holst’s father remarried in 1885, and was sent to Cheltenham grammar school. His father was determined to make him a good pianist, but Holst was troubled w/ neuritis in his hands which made practicing a severe strain.
In 1893, Holst received his first professional music engagement. Where he served as an organist at Wick Rissington, a small Cotswold village. Soon after he became an organist and choirmaster for a choral society. Later on in his career, Holst became interested in Hindu philosophy and Sanskrit literature. Resulting in him composing several works from the Rig Veda, the most important of Hindu scriptures. In 1895 he met his wife Isobel Harrison, and the two married in 1901. In 1907 the two had their first and only child, a girl Imogen Holst.
Planets Holst began composing the Planets in 1914 and didn’t finish until two years later in 1916. The three pieces selected for listening are as follows: Mars, the bringer of war. (Named after the Roman god of war. ) Jupiter, the bringer of jollity. (Named after the Roman god Jupiter) Neptune, the mystic. (Named after the Roman god of the sea. )
Interpretations of the Planets “The full horror of mechanised warfare confronts us face to face in this bleakest of all tone poems. Its face is unrepentent, unrelenting and merciless and it offers us no hope of redemption. Thousands of pairs of jackbooted feet parade across the landscape, scurrying to their graves. Tanks pound cities into rubble. Bullets fly and bombs fall. Airplanes swoop low overhead. ” – Bryan Trussler, Mars. “The spirit of this music is very much in keeping with the astrological significance of Jupiter as the planet of benevolence and generosity. This Jupiter has no thunderbolts to hurtle down on us, but only knowing smiles and a wink or two. He has come down from Olympus to flirt with beauties in the mortal realm and, if flirtation leads to something more, so much the better. We hear him chasing but not catching the ladies. ”- Bryan Trussler, Jupiter. “The chasm opens and we step out into the void. We have a sense of a floating cascade through empty space, through Neptune's watery depths. Celestial harmonies surround us and we hear choirs of angels receding into the distance. ”-Bryan Trussler, Neptune.
Mars Listen for: Repeating ostinato, 5/4 time signature, col legno technique (with the wood), melodic line spacing in fifth intervals, short bursts of fanfare. Mars, the bringer of war
Jupiter Listen for: Three note figure (strings), syncopated themes, virtuosic timpani theme, different time signatures. Jupiter, the bringer of jollity
Neptune Listen for: Women's choir chords underneath orchestra, long indiscriminate melody. Neptune, the mystic
I would just like to end this presentation by saying that I have thoroughly enjoyed this music course. It rekindled my love for classical music. And I would like to say thank you to my music professor Mrs. Henrie for being such an interesting and entertaining teacher, as well as having the passion for teaching, and playing music. It makes me thankful for good teachers in this world. Caleb George
- Slides: 9