The Choral Symphony is a work by

Gustav Holst Gustav Theodore Holst (born Gustavus Theodore von Holst; 21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934) was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite ''The Planets'', he composed many other works across a range ...

for soprano soloist, chorus, and orchestra in a setting of verses by

John Keats John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821) was an English poet of the second generation of Romantic poets, with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. His poems had been in publication for less than four years when he died of tuberculos ...

. Written in 1923–24, it was premiered in

Leeds Town Hall Leeds Town Hall is a 19th-century municipal building on The Headrow (formerly Park Lane), Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Planned to include law courts, a council chamber, offices, a public hall, and a suite of ceremonial rooms, it was built b ...

on October 7, 1925, conducted by Albert Coates with Dorothy Silk as soloist. The same performers gave the work's second performance three weeks later in

Queen's Hall The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect Thomas Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. Fro ...

, London. The work is sometimes known as the First Choral Symphony, although a planned 'second Choral Symphony' never progressed beyond some uncompleted sketches.Holst (1986), pp. 77, 157

Structure

The symphony is written in a traditional four-movement structure; nevertheless, the setting of the ''

Ode on a Grecian Urn "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is a poem written by the English Romantic poet John Keats in May 1819, first published anonymously in ''Annals of the Fine Arts for 1819'' (see 1820 in poetry)''.'' The poem is one of the " Great Odes of 1819", which al ...

'' and the Scherzo can also be performed separately.Holst, ''New Grove'', 8:663. * 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 (" Song of the Indian Maid") ** 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 ("Fancy") ** Part 2. Folly's Song: When wedding fiddles are a-playing (Extracts from an Opera, FOLLY'S SONG) * 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!

Overview

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

for his text, Holst set 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 ''

''. 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 reignest" which the poet had written in a copy of

Beaumont and Fletcher Beaumont and Fletcher were the English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, who collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I (1603–25). They became known as a team early in their association, so much so that their joi ...

'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 A choral symphony is a musical composition for orchestra, choir, and sometimes solo vocalists that, in its internal workings and overall musical architecture, adheres broadly to symphonic musical form. The term "choral symphony" in this contex ...

, 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 Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

, admitted that he felt only a "cold admiration" for it.Holst, ''New Grove'', 8:661. After the initial performances the symphony fell into neglect. From this point Holst's popularity as a composer waned.Short, 2.

Planned second Choral Symphony

Holst began planning a 'second Choral Symphony', based on poems by

George Meredith George Meredith (12 February 1828 – 18 May 1909) was an English novelist and poet of the Victorian era. At first his focus was poetry, influenced by John Keats among others, but he gradually established a reputation as a novelist. '' The Ord ...

, but only made some initial fragmentary sketches. These sketches are now located at the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It documen ...

in London.

Bibliography

*Holst, Imogen, ed. Stanley Sadie, "Holst, Gustav(us Theodore von)," ''New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'', 20 vols. London: Macmillan, 1980. . *Holst, Imogen. ''The music of Gustav Holst'' (3rd revised ed.), printed with ''Holst's music reconsidered''.

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, 1986 *Mitchell, Jon C. ''A Comprehensive Biography of Composer Gustav Holst with Correspondence and Diary Excerpts Including his American Years'' Lewiston:

Edwin Mellen Press The Edwin Mellen Press or Mellen Press is an international independent company and academic publishing house with editorial offices in Lewiston, New York, and Lampeter, Wales. It was founded, in 1972, by the religious studies scholar Profess ...

, 2001. . * Short, Michael, Notes for Hyperion CDA66660, ''Holst: Choral Symphony; Choral Fantasia''

Hyperion Records Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label. History Hyperion is an independent British classical label that was established in 1980 with the goal of showcasing recordings of music in all genres and from all time period ...

Limited, London, 1993.

References

{{Gustav Holst

Holst Gustav Theodore Holst (born Gustavus Theodore von Holst; 21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934) was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite ''The Planets'', he composed many other works across a range ...

Compositions by Gustav Holst Music for orchestra and organ 1924 compositions