Musical Research Topics Outline By: Simcha, Ricardo, Guadalupe, Elisa, and Chariti

A. Title St. Paul’s Suite Op.29 I. Composition A. Title St. Paul’s Suite Op.29 B. Date finished/premiered 1913 C. period in which it was composed 20th Century (not contemporary)

II. Composer A. Full name Gustav Theodore Von Holst B. Born-Died 1. Dates September 21, 1874 - May 25, 1934 2. Cities Cheltenham London C. Nationality English (British) Scandinavian/Russian descent D. Cities of residence Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Oxford, London, Hammersmith

III. Composer’s background A. Summary of personal history and events (parents, family, health, spouse) 1. 1876: Holst’s mother, Clara Von Holst, died just after the birth of his brother, Emil Gottfried 2. 1886: Around this time, Holst took trombone lessons as his father thought it would improve his asthma. As a child, he was physically weak. He had naturally poor eyes and a weak chest. 3. 1901: Holst marries Emily Isobel Harrison 4. 1924: Holst ordered by his doctor to cancel all professional engagements and to live in the country where he was able to continue composing. 5. 1932: He was appointed visiting lecturer in composition at Harvard University in January but became ill soon after. B. Overview of entire musical career—most important benchmarks (education, composition, teaching, etc.) 1. 1905: Gustav Holst began teaching music at St Paul's School in Hammersmith. 2. 1907: Gustav Holst began teaching music at Morley College. 3. 1916: Gustav Holst emerged as a major composer with the seven-movement suite (1914-1916) 'The Planets'. 4. 1925: Gustav Holst gave up most of his teaching. 5. 1932: Harvard University offered him a lectureship for six months.

IV. Composer’s significance A. Historical significance: What is the composer most remembered for? Why? What is the composer's greatest contribution(s) to music? (Major works, prizes/awards, creation of new styles/forms, etc.) 1. Holst was remembered for being music master at St. Paul’s Girls’ School in 1905 and director of music at Morley College in 1907 because he retained both of them until the end of his life aa well as devoted much time to both orchestras to ensure the successes of both. 2. Holst also had methods that popularized English vocal and traditional choral such as folk songs and church music. This is important because his ‘pioneering methods’ influenced musical education in many English schools at the time. 3. Holst gave rise to his “Sanskrit” period (1908–12), when he composed the opera Savitri and four sets of choral hymns from the Rigveda. 4. One Holst’s most infamous pieces, The Planets Op. 32, (or ‘Seven Pieces for Large Orchestra’) composed right after the First World War, has stood the test of time and is still widely recognized today for its uniqueness and interesting movements throughout this suite. 5. Following his death, Holst had many programs dedicated to his life (BBC, concert Chichester Cathedral, etc..) to commemorate his popularization of folksong music and his care for others as people and growing musicians. B. Composer’s output (genres and quantities-- ex.55 operas, 22 symphonies, etc) 1. Genres include: Opera, ballet orchestral suites, choral, hymns, and songs 2. Almost 200 works but not specified on how many of each. 3. Most used genre from Holst: folksong

V. Compositional techniques used in this piece A. Form: Triple B. Meter(s): 12/8 9/8 Tempo (i) 120 C. Key(s): C Major D. Orchestration/instrumentation: String Orchestra E. Style/texture: Polyphonic Early 20th Century

VI. Meaning/ significance of title; Links to other artistic works Our orchestra only performs movement 5 of the St. Paul’s Suite, ‘Finale’. ‘Finale’ is widely known as the piece of music that marks the end of a performance. The title of the entire suite, “St. Paul’s Suite” was originally title “Suite in C” because the suite is in the key of C Major. This suite is named after the St. Paul’s Girls’ School where Holst was the director of music up until his death in 1934. This suite has four movements and is said to have been written in gratitude for his students at the school.

VII. Performance difficulties: rhythm, intonation, balance, phrasing, shifting, tempo, etc. Specify reason and location. A. Individual 1. In ‘Finale’ of St. Paul’s Suite, where the orchestra had marked ‘S’ is where I struggle with balance and tone because my tremolo does not project enough sound and is unclear. 2. Finale #9 to #10 I struggle with intonation because I am required to shift to tenor clef 3. Finale #10 where my section performs the ‘Dargason’ I sometimes struggle to execute correct bowings. B. Section and/ or Ensemble 1. In my section we all struggle with the transition from the rhythm in #9 to the Dargason 2. Finale #10 we all struggle to make the rhythm sound crisp instead of like ‘mush’ because of the ties.

VIII. Illustrate relationships and connect this work or the composer’s output with other artistic or historical events occurring at the same time. 1. Holst exhibited a strong and unbreakable bond with his students from St. Paul’s Girls’ School so much so that he composed one of his most recognizable pieces, ‘St. Paul’s Suite’, for them. 2. Holst dedicated most of his early compositions to his mother, Clara, who had passed away. Holst admired his mother’s devotion to her family. 3. Holst’s father, Adolph, ordered Holst to play the trombone so that he did worsen his asthma playing a brass instrument. His father also paid for Holst to attend Oxford University where he received experience in conducting. Holst’s first performance was also with his father playing the piano. 4. There is not much to say about Emily Isobel Harrison except for this was Holst’s wife who was also a famous composer. Harrison and Holst met while Holst was conducting the Hammersmith Socialist Choir and continued to inspire one another throughout their marriage. 5. Holst’s close life-long friend, Ralph Vaughan Williams, was a fellow student of the Royal College of Music. Holst and Williams frequently bonded over their admiration for music.

IX. Additional comments IX. Additional comments. Through your research, what did you find most interesting and why? 1. Something I found really cool and interesting is that Gustav Holst’s most famous suite, ‘The Planets’, inspired the creation of Star Wars by John Williams which is now one of the most acclaimed movies in the world with one of the most recognizable scores. 2. I also found it interesting that Holst began composing at the young age of 12 and even won a prize in an amateur competition for his vocal work, A Christmas Carol. 3. Other than asthma, Holst had severe ‘neuritis’ which made his arms extremely weak. Unfortunately, because of this Holst had to abandon the idea of becoming a concert pianist. 4. I found it rather intriguing that Holst composed both ‘The Planets’ and ‘The Hymn of Jesus’ during World War One and that many coined this time his ‘busy years’ even though the war was taking a toll on everyday life and the economy. 5. I also found it both inspiring and interesting that Holst continued to pursue music and travel the world despite his many health conditions, including his ulcer that ultimately led to his death in 34’.

X. Sources https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gustav-holst-mn0000099034/biography • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Holst • http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/short-bio/gustav-holst • https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/gustavus-theodore-von- holst-379.php