Holst, Gustav (1874-1934), was an English composer and teacher. Holst composed many of his works for vocal soloists and chorus. These compositions show his sensitivity to the human voice and to language as well as his love for the English folk song tradition. However, Holst’s best-known work is the orchestral suite The Planets (1914-1916). This suite consists of seven parts, each interpreting the astrological nature of a planet.
Loading the player...The Planets by Gustav Holst
Holst composed two famous suites for military band (1909, 1911) based on English folk songs. He was one of the first composers to write quality music for the wind band. The Hymn of Jesus (1917) is a work for orchestra and chorus based on the apocryphal books of the Bible. The poetry of John Keats inspired Holst’s First Choral Symphony (1925) for soprano, chorus, and orchestra. Holst also wrote a number of works that reflect his interest in Hindu literature. Gustavus Theodore von Holst was born in Cheltenham of Swedish parents on Sept. 21, 1874. He died on May 25, 1934.
