First Suite in E flat
•Download as PPT, PDF•
1 like•3,010 views
Gustav Holst This PowerPoint presentation focuses on Gustav Holst's historical First Suite in E flat. Piece Duration: 10 minutes The presentation also contains a brief history on Holst's life, composition construction, Presentation Duration: 40-45 minutes and a section introducing the music terms used throughout the piece. All Powerpoints contain director notes, and resources.
Recommended
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Similar to First Suite in E flat
Similar to First Suite in E flat (20)
More from John Sierakowski
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
First Suite in E flat
- 1. Created by Mr. Sierakowski (2007) Northern Illinois University Grade 4
- 2. Gustav Holst (1874-1934) • Born on September 21st • Experienced a horrible childhood • Musical fascinations • More neuritis problems Northern Illinois University 2
- 3. More Holst • Composition career begins • Joins the Hammersmith Socialist Club • 1895 becomes interested in Hindu philosophy • Composition career at a stand still Northern Illinois University 3
- 4. First Suite in Eb (1909) • Composed in 1909 • Cornerstone of wind literature • First Suite in three movements • First performed in 1920 • Transcribed for orchestra Northern Illinois University 4
- 5. Movement I - Chaconne • A short repeated harmonic progression, can be in triple meter. • Material used in movement I is quoted in other movements. Northern Illinois University 5
- 6. Movement II - Intermezzo • An interlude between to movements • The tempo is marked vivace, light in character • Holst shows off his mastery in writing for woodwind instruments • Clarinet and trumpet soli • Euphonium solo Northern Illinois University 6
- 7. Movement III - March • A procession suited for a parade or martial affair • This movement is in ABA form • Holst shows off his mastery in writing for brass instruments • Combination of two melodies in a sophisticated counterpoint Northern Illinois University 7
- 8. More Holst • Holst’s interest in astrology • The Planets, (1914-1920) • Despised the popularity • May 25th, 1934 Northern Illinois University 8
- 9. Vocabulary used in the “First Suite” • Suite – series of movements, same or related keys • Chaconne – repeated short progression, can be in triple meter • Allegro Moderato – moderately fast • Legato – smooth, and connected • Stacc. – staccato, detached or separated • Tutti – all voices or instruments together • Pesante – heavy, with great weight • a2 – a due, two instruments playing unison lines • Maestoso – in a dignified or majestic fashion Northern Illinois University 9
- 10. More vocabulary • rit. al fine – slow down to the end • Intermezzo – an interlude between to movements • Vivace – lively or brisk manner • con sord. – con sordino, with mute • L’istesso tempo – same tempo • March – a procession suited for a parade or martial affair • con largezza – with length • Piu mosso – more motion • Meno mosso – less motion Northern Illinois University 10
- 11. Related Information • Most played composition, timeless • Second Suite in F • Hammersmith Northern Illinois University 11
- 12. Resources Cited • Fennell, F. (1954). Time and the Winds. Kenosha: G. Leblanc Corporation. • Goldman, R. F. (1961). The Wind Band: Its Literature and Technique. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc. • Holst, G. (1948). First Suite in E Flat for Military Band [Score]. London: Boosey & Hawkes. • Miles, R. (1997). Teaching Music through Performance in Band, Vol. 1. Chicago : GIA Publications, Inc. • Taylor, K. (2007). A Biography of Gustav Holst. Retrieved March 28, 2007, from The Gustav Holst Website Website: http://www.gustavholst.info/ • Udell, B. (1982). Standard Works for Band: Gustav Holst's First Suite in E Flat Major for Military Band. Music Educators Journal, 69(4), 27-30+58-60. • Mathers, A. (2005). Variations and Performance Practice and Editions in Holst’s First Suite in E Flat. Journal of Australian Band and Orchestra Director's Association, 1-13. Northern Illinois University 12
Editor's Notes
- First Suite in Eb Opus 28 No. 1 (1909) by Gustav Holst Piece Duration: 10 Minutes Presentation Duration: 40-45 Minutes
- Born in Cheltenham, England on September 21, 1874. His full name was Gustavus Theodore von Holst. He experienced a horrible childhood, his eyes were weak (no one realized he needed spectacles,) troubles breathing (asthma) with his mother dieing at age 8, developing neuritis as a piano player, tried composition and failed to get any scholarships. Received his first appointment in Wick Rissington, England as an organist. Fascinated by the composer in Arthur Sullivan, Wagner, and Bach throughout his life and leads him to study at the Royal College of Music, under regular admission. Neuritis leads him to stop playing the keyboard, and to pick-up the trombone to supply income.
- Holst composition career begins in 1895 when he wins a open composition scholarship, which supplies the rest of his tuition at the RCM. Holst joins the Hammersmith Socialist Club, conducts the choir, and fall is love with soprano Isobel Harrison. Learns how to translate Sanskrit (classical language of India,) and opens up a whole new world to Holst. In 1898 he leaves RCM for a trombone job, Holst’s composition career was at a stand still for a period of time, he was composing music, publishers would not pick him up. Later (1905,) accepts the position of Music Director at St. Paul’s Girl’s School in Hammersmith
- Holst’s First Suite in Eb was completed in 1909, and originally scored for military band. Pieces typically written for wind band, were reductions of orchestra pieces. Holst was desperately trying to make the wind band a concert medium. May have been written to assist in Kneller Hall’s desire to interest British composers to write original music for band. Considered the cornerstone of all wind literature. Holst being a trombone player, and playing in the White Viennese Band (a fake foreign band,) he was quite familiar with wind literature and scoring. Suite, an ordered series or movements, in the same or related key centers, in any character. Three movements of the Holst Suite are Chaconne, Intermezzo, and March. First performance 11 years after it’s completion, by the Kneller Hall Band (165 players.) One of the first concert band pieces to be arranged for orchestra
- Chaconne – a short repeated harmonic progression, can be in triple meter
- Clarinet and trumpet soli should be well articulated Euphonium solo should be played smooth and lyrical Holst also writes in small chamber ensembles, and can be categorized as chamber music due to it being solo-istic in nature.
- ABA form, or ternary where the first and last sections are typically identical, and separated by a contrasting section in a related key or a trio section. A unique march because the final statement have two melodies in a sophisticated counterpoint (relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour, rhythm, and harmony.
- Holst had a growing interest in astrology and friend and astrologer Clifford Bax influenced and encouraged him to continue researching astrology. Through his interest in astrology, Holst is inspired to write a composition after the planets. He calls “The Planets” a “series of mood pictures.” Holst despised “The Planets” popularity, and it is said that when people came up to receive an autograph, Holst would hand them a card that said he did not give autographs. People demanded more compositions like “The Planets,” but were disappointed in the end. First complete performance was in 1920. He ended up stopping his interest in astrology until later in life Holst would cast his own horoscopes for friends. He died on May 25 th , 1934 at the age of 59, shortly after a stomach surgery he received.
- Vocabulary used in Holst’s “First Suite in Eb” – Definitions pop-up after word.
- More vocabulary used in Holst’s “First Suite in Eb” – Definitions pop-up after word.
- Today, Holst’s First Suite in Eb, is probably the most played composition for wind ensemble, and is timeless to band repetoire. Holst also wrote a Second Suite in F (1911), similar to his first suite, but Holst uses English folk songs as his foundation. He uses “Greensleeves” to “I’ll love my Love” throughout the composition. Hammersmith represents his time in Hammersmith, and his years at St. Paul’s. Though this piece was not well received, it remains a standard in concert band literature today, not published until 1956.