Gustav Holst Research Paper

Gustav Holst was born on September 21, 1874 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. His father Adolph von Holst was also a professional musician, as were many other family members in recent generations. Holst’s great grandfather, Matthias Holst was the composer and harp teacher to the Imperial Russian Court in St Petersburg. His grandfather, Gustavus Holst was a composer of salon music and a well known harp teacher. Gustav, along with his three brothers, was subject to benign neglect because his mother, Evelyn (Thorley) Holst was absorbed in theosophy rather than domestic matters. He was taught piano and violin, taking up the trombone at age twelve. Holst was educated at the Cheltenham Grammar School from 1886 until 1891. He began composing …show more content…
His early compositions included piano pieces, organ voluntaries, songs, anthems, and a symphony in 1892. His main musical influences were Mendelssohn, Chopin, Grieg, and especially Sullivan. Holst’s father had tried to steer him away from a musical career due to him suffering from asthma, poor eyesight, and neuritis. However, Holst landed his first professional appointment at age seventeen in 1891 as organist and choirmaster at Wyck Rissington, Gloucestershire. He also conducted at the Bourton on the Water Choral Society, providing valuable experience. In 1892 Holst wrote an opera in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan, Lansdown Castle, or The Sorcerer of Tewkesbury. It was performed at Cheltenham Corn exchange in 1893 and was well received, encouraging Holst to continue composing. Holst was accepted into the Royal College of Music. His professors were Frederick Sharpe, William Stephenson Hoyte, George Case, George Jacobi, and Hubert Parry. He studied composition with Charles Villiers Stanford. He played trombone professionally to support himself through school. Like many musicians of his generation, he became a fan of Wagner after initially rejecting his style. Ralph Vaughan Williams soon became a lifelong friend of Holst and had more influence on his

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Gustav Holst Research Paper