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Gustav HolstEnglish musician, unusually original composer.
Date of Birth: 21.09.1874
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Gustav Holst
- Early Life and Education
- Musical Career
- World War I and Later Life
- Notable Works and Legacy
- Gustav Holst passed away in London on May 25, 1934.
Biography of Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst was an English musician and an incredibly original composer. He was born on September 21, 1874, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. His father was a pianist, and his grandfather and great-grandfather were composers. The Holst family originated from Sweden.
Early Life and Education
Holst completed his schooling in Cheltenham and went on to study composition at the Royal College of Music in London. During his time there, he also learned to play the trombone. He initially intended to become a pianist but was hindered by an incurable neuritis in his right hand.
Musical Career
During his student years, Holst conducted a "socialist choir" at the home of W. Morris and studied Sanskrit at the School of Oriental Languages. He began his professional career as the first trombonist and rehearsal pianist of the Carl Rosa Opera Company. From 1903 onwards, Holst devoted a significant amount of his time to teaching in schools and evening educational institutions.
Inspired by his friendship with R. Vaughan Williams, Holst became passionate about reviving English folk songs and republishing old (16th century) English motets, madrigals, and songs with lute accompaniment. At Morley College, he organized amateur performances of lesser-known theatrical works by H. Purcell with his students.
World War I and Later Life
During World War I, Holst served with the English forces in the Middle East, engaging in enlightening activities. After the war, he taught composition at the Royal College of Music and at the University of Reading. In 1923, he decided to focus more on composition and stopped teaching. However, he occasionally gave public lectures and conducted a course at Harvard University in 1932.
Notable Works and Legacy
Holst's first remarkable composition was the short chamber opera "Savitri" in 1908. His first widely recognized work was the large-scale orchestral suite "The Planets" (1914-1917). Other characteristic and frequently performed pieces in Holst's style include the "St. Paul's Suite for Strings" (1914), "The Hymn of Jesus" (1917), "Ode to Death" (1917), and the music for the ballet "The Perfect Fool" (1922).
In the mid-1920s, Holst's popularity declined as the audience was perplexed by his "Choral Symphony" (1924). The mature works of his later period, such as "Egdon Heath" (1927), "Hammersmith" (1930), and the "Choral Fantasia," are characterized by a severe simplicity that was only truly appreciated in the 1960s.
