Born:
September 21, 1874
Birthplace:
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Died:
May 25, 1934 in London
Also Known As:
His full name was Gustavus Theodore Von Holst, a British composer and influential music educator of the 20th century.
Type of Compositions:
He is particularly known for his orchestral pieces and stage works.
Influence:
His father taught the piano and was an organist, but Holst' instrument of choice was the trombone. He attended the Royal College of Music where he met Ralph Vaughan Williams. After college, he joined several orchestras as a trombonist and in 1905, was appointed music director of St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith. In 1907, he was also appointed as music director of Morley College in South London. Holst likewise taught music at Reading University and the Royal College of Music in London.
Notable Works:
His works include "A Somerset Rhapsody," "The Planets," "The Hymn of Jesus," "The Perfect Fool," "Savitri," "At the Bear's Head," "Egdon Heath," "Choral Fantasia," "The Wandering Scholar," "Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra," "Fugal Concerto," "Sita," "Hammersmith" and "Ode to Death."
Interesting Facts:
His works were influenced by English folk songs, Eastern religion, mysticism and works by such composers as Stravinsky and Ravel. Holst' most famous work is "The Planets," an orchestral suite consisting of seven movements, namely:
Mars, the Bringer of War
Venus, the Bringer of Peace
Mercury, the Winged Messenger
Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
Uranus, the Magician
Neptune, the Mystic
Related Video:
Listen to Gustav Holst' "The Planets, Op.32" (Mars, the Bringer of War) courtesy of YouTube.