Holst and the winds : a legacy / Jon Ceander Mitchell.

Author/creator Mitchell, Jon C.
Format Book
PublicationRochester, NY : University of Rochester Press, 2026.
Descriptionxx, 338 pages : illustrations, music ; 24 cm
Subjects

SeriesEastman studies in music, 1071-9989 ; 208
Eastman studies in music ; v. 208. ^A494093
Contents Beginnings -- A paragon for posterity -- Music for the populace -- The art of revision -- The war years -- Another change in style -- Music for the working classes -- On the wireless -- "From GH (and Emma Smith)" -- Validation -- Conclusion -- Appendices. Correspondence, W. J. Duthoit to A. A. Harding, October 3, 1937 ; Comparison of the instrumentation on the urtext scores of Holst's original military band works.
Abstract Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was a composer and music educator whose work spanned four decades. Though he remains most widely known for his orchestral suite The Planets, his works for band or wind ensemble are also performed frequently yet have never been studied in such systematic detail. They vary widely in genre--from chamber music to military and brass-band works--and in form-from sonata cycle to suite to symphonic poem. Holst's works for winds give plentiful evidence of the many influences on him, both musical (including Wagnerian romanticism, English folk song, and Baroque polyphony) and non-musical (e.g., Sanskrit literature, William Morris and Walt Whitman). There is also a sense of practicality in these works, as nearly all offer some sort of optional instrumentation. Numerous sketches exist for the First Suite in E-flat, A Moorside Suite, and especially Hammersmith, and manuscript full scores detail the many phases of construction of the Second Suite in F. Theories about the origins of the First Suite in E-flat and A Moorside Suite are also presented, and attention is given to some remarkable non-band works, such as Duet for Organ and Trombone and A Fugal Concerto. The book is arranged chronologically. Documentation is provided largely through Holst's personal papers, written correspondence, programs, and periodical reviews. Music educators, performers, conductors, and anybody who loves Holst's music will enjoy the insights provided herein.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
LCCN 2025035958
ISBN9781648251313 hardback
ISBN1648251315
ISBNpdf
ISBNepub

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML410.H748 M57 H6 2026 ✔ Available Place Hold