St Paul's Suite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gustav Holst

St. Paul's Suite (Op. 29 no. 2) is a composition for orchestra by prolific English composer Gustav Holst. It was written in 1912, but due to revisions wasn't published until 1922.

The suite has four movements:

I. Jig: Vivace
II. Ostinato: Presto
III. Intermezzo: Andante con moto
IV. Finale (The Dargason): Allegro

[edit] Background

Aside from the popular composition The Planets, it is probably Holst's best known work, and is certainly the best known of his many compositions for the St. Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, a borough of London, where he served as musical director from 1904 until his death in 1934. He composed this piece specifically for the all-girl orchestra to perform. Originally composed for strings, Holst later added wind parts so that the suite could be played by a full orchestra. This simple-to-learn piece is still a favourite among many young musicians.

Holst blends dance and folk tunes into this orchestral suite, and uses the familiar Greensleeves theme as a counter-melody in the Dargason.

The Intermezzo, which borrows its theme from The Irish Washerwoman, was also used as the final movement of Holst's Second Suite in F for Military Band.