This week on “Sweetness and Light,” to mark the sesquicentenary of the birth of Gustav Holst (born on this date in 1874), we’ll have a down-to-earth celebration of the composer of “The Planets.”
Holst wrote some very interesting and effective works in a modestly modernist style, but the emphasis this morning will be on his delectable folk-inflected music. In the company of his lifelong friend, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Holst struck out for the fields and fens, documenting by cylinder and notating by hand songs of the English countryside, preserving them against the oblivion of encroaching industrialization. Recognizing their rich potential as raw material for the development of a distinctly “English” national sound, the two artists began assimilating characteristics into their own respective styles.
Since Holst’s day job was as director of the St. Paul’s Girls’ School (from 1905 until his death in 1934), it’s hardly surprising that the larger portion of the music to be heard during the hour will be devoted to pieces introduced by the students and faculty.
We’ll enjoy a worthy successor to the popular “St. Paul’s Suite” of 1913, the “Brook Green Suite,” composed two decades later. The St. Paul’s School is located on Brook Green in Hammersmith, London. The performance will surely be of added interested in that it will be conducted by composer’s daughter, Imogen Holst.
Of course, when celebrating Holst, we can’t very well ignore “The Planets.” For a light music show, it goes without saying, the most jovial of these is “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.” The big tune at its generous heart was further popularized as the patriotic hymn “I Vow to Thee, My Country.” Holst was a master orchestrator (it’s amusing to reflect that his instrument was the trombone), but I think you’ll find his own arrangement for two pianos to be fresh and surprisingly illuminating. Our performers will be Richard Rodney Bennett and Susan Bradshaw.
The Suite No. 2 for Military Band of 1911 is based on a number of delightful folk tunes, including “Swansea Town,” “I’ll Love My Love,” “A Blacksmith Courted Me,” “Dargason,” and “Greensleeves.” We’ll hear it played by the Dallas Wind Symphony, directed by Howard Dunn. And as a bonus, we’ll follow it with Holst’s setting of one of the songs for men’s chorus, sung by the Baccholian Singers of London.
Finally, we’ll have the substantial choral ballet of 1926, “The Golden Goose,” on a scenario adapted from a tale of the Brothers Grimm,” again given its debut at St. Paul’s. This one is long on charm, chockful of good tunes in a folk style. Hilary Davan Wetton will direct the Guildford Choral Society and Philharmonia Orchestra. What’s not to love?
There’s gold in them thar hills! I hope you’ll join me for a Holst sesquicentennial tribute, on “Sweetness and Light,” this Saturday morning at 11:00 EDT/8:00 PDT, exclusively on KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon!
Stream it wherever you are at the link:
https://kwax.uoregon.edu/
