First Choral Symphony
Encyclopedia
British composer Gustav Holst
wrote his First Choral Symphony in 1923–24. It was premiered in Leeds Town Hall on October 7, 1925, conducted by Albert Coates
and with Dorothy Silk
as soloist. The same performers gave the work's second performance three weeks later in London's Queen's Hall.
for his text, Holst utilized various unrelated passages that stimulated his musical imagination. For the introduction and first movement he chose stanzas from the chorus of shepherds in Endymion
and from the Roundelay in Book IV of the poem. The second movement became a setting of the complete poem Ode on a Grecian Urn
. The Scherzo uses much of "Fancy and Folly's Song" a short piece published in Extracts from an Opera. For the finale Holst chose the lines "Spirit here that reighenest" which the poet had written in a copy of Beaumony and Fletcher's plays; this was followed by extracts from the Hymn to Apollo, most of the Ode to Apollo and the ode Bards of Passion and of Mirth. The work thus became a four-movement choral symphony
, with the vocal parts fully integrated in the overall musical texture instead of being added to the orchestra as an extra element.
, admitted that he felt only a "cold admiration" for it. After the initial performances the symphony fell into neglect. From this point Holst's popularity as a composer waned.
, but did not progress past fragmentary sketches. These sketches are now located at the British Museum
in London
.
Gustav Holst
Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
wrote his First Choral Symphony in 1923–24. It was premiered in Leeds Town Hall on October 7, 1925, conducted by Albert Coates
Albert Coates (musician)
Albert Coates was an English conductor and composer. Born in Saint Petersburg where his English father was a successful businessman, he studied in Russia, England and Germany, before beginning his career as a conductor in a series of German opera houses...
and with Dorothy Silk
Dorothy Silk
Dorothy Silk was an English soprano.She studied in Birmingham, then in Vienna under Johannes Ress. She made her London debut at Queen's Hall...
as soloist. The same performers gave the work's second performance three weeks later in London's Queen's Hall.
Structure
The symphony is written in the traditional four-movement structure; nevertheless, the setting of the Ode on a Grecian Urn and the scherzo can also be performed separately.- Prelude: Invocation to Pan 'O Thou, whose mighty palace roof doth hang'
- Movement 1
- Part 1. Song and Bacchanal: Beneath my palm tree, by the river side
- Part 2. Chorus: Whence came ye, merry Damsels, whence came ye?
- Part 3. Solo: Within his car, aloft, young Bacchus stood
- Part 4. Chorus: Whence came ye, jolly Satyrs, whence came ye?
- Part 5. Solo: Onward the tiger and the leopard pants
- Part 6. Chorus: Bacchus, young Bacchus! good or ill betide
- Movement 2.
- Chorus: Ode on a Grecian Urn 'Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness'
- Movement 3
- Part 1. Scherzo 'Fancy' Chorus: Ever let the fancy roam
- Part 2. Folly's Song: When wedding fiddles are a-playing
- Movement 4
- Part 1. Solo: Spirit here that reignest!
- Part 2. Chorus: God of the golden bow
- Part 3. Solo: Then, through thy Temple wide, melodious swells
- Part 4. Chorus: 'Tis awful silence then again
- Part 5. Solo: Next thy Tasso's ardent numbers
- Part 6. Chorus: But when Thou joinest with the Nine
- Part 7. Solo: Spirit here that reignest!
Composition
By 1923, Holst enjoyed a substantial reputation as a choral composer. That year he was chosen by the organizers of the 1925 Leeds Triennial Festival to write a new work for that event. Holst accepted the commission. Turning to the poetry of John KeatsJohn Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
for his text, Holst utilized various unrelated passages that stimulated his musical imagination. For the introduction and first movement he chose stanzas from the chorus of shepherds in Endymion
Endymion (poem)
Endymion is a poem by John Keats first published in 1818. Beginning famously with the line "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever", Endymion, like many epic poems in English , is written in rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter...
and from the Roundelay in Book IV of the poem. The second movement became a setting of the complete poem Ode on a Grecian Urn
Ode on a Grecian Urn
"Ode on a Grecian Urn" is a poem written by the English Romantic poet John Keats in May 1819 and published in January 1820 . It is one of his "Great Odes of 1819", which include "Ode on Indolence", "Ode on Melancholy", "Ode to a Nightingale", and "Ode to Psyche"...
. The Scherzo uses much of "Fancy and Folly's Song" a short piece published in Extracts from an Opera. For the finale Holst chose the lines "Spirit here that reighenest" which the poet had written in a copy of Beaumony and Fletcher's plays; this was followed by extracts from the Hymn to Apollo, most of the Ode to Apollo and the ode Bards of Passion and of Mirth. The work thus became a four-movement choral symphony
Choral symphony
A choral symphony is a musical composition for orchestra, choir, sometimes with solo vocalists, which in its internal workings and overall musical architecture adheres broadly to symphonic musical form. The term "choral symphony" in this context was coined by Hector Berlioz when describing his...
, with the vocal parts fully integrated in the overall musical texture instead of being added to the orchestra as an extra element.
Reception
Though it seems that the Leeds premiere was well-received, the London performance had a poor effect, due largely to an inadequate rehearsal of a demanding piece. The work never recovered from that disastrous outing, and there were plenty of pundits prepared to pour scorn on the work. Literary purists were offended by the juxtaposition of unrelated elements from Keats' poems. Music critics scorned the work, accusing Holst of not pouring enough debauchery into the Bacchanale. Singers found the work difficult. Audiences showed little enthusiasm. Even Holst's friend, composer Ralph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
, admitted that he felt only a "cold admiration" for it. After the initial performances the symphony fell into neglect. From this point Holst's popularity as a composer waned.
Second Choral Symphony
Holst had planned to write a second choral symphony, based on poems by George MeredithGeorge Meredith
George Meredith, OM was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era.- Life :Meredith was born in Portsmouth, England, a son and grandson of naval outfitters. His mother died when he was five. At the age of 14 he was sent to a Moravian School in Neuwied, Germany, where he remained for two...
, but did not progress past fragmentary sketches. These sketches are now located at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.