''St Paul's Suite'' in

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor a ...

( Op. 29, No. 2), originally titled simply Suite in C, is a popular work for

string orchestra A string orchestra is an orchestra consisting solely of a string section made up of the bowed strings used in Western Classical music. The instruments of such an orchestra are most often the following: the violin, which is divided into first ...

by the English composer

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 ...

. Finished in 1913, but not published until 1922 due to revisions, it takes its name from

St Paul's Girls' School St Paul's Girls' School is an independent day school for girls, aged 11 to 18, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England. History St Paul's Girls' School was founded by the Worshipful Company of Mercers in 1904, using part ...

Hammersmith Hammersmith is a district of West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. ...

, London. Holst served as the school's "music master" from 1905 to 1934 and was grateful to the school for building a soundproof studio for him. The suite is one of many pieces he wrote for the school's students.

Form

The suite consists of four movements:

Jig:
Vivace In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
Ostinato:
Presto Presto may refer to: Computing * Presto (browser engine), an engine previously used in the Opera web browser * Presto (operating system), a Linux-based OS by Xandros * Presto (SQL query engine), a distributed query engine * Presto (animation s ...
Intermezzo: Andante con moto
Finale (The Dargason): Allegro

A typical performance lasts 13 minutes.

Analysis

I. Jig

: \new Staff :Incipit of the first movement The jig is introduced in alternating 6/8 and 9/8 time. A contrasting theme is then introduced, which is later blended with the original jig.

II. Ostinato

: \new Staff :Main theme of the second movement The movement opens with an

ostinato In music, an ostinato (; derived from Italian word for ''stubborn'', compare English ''obstinate'') is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. Well-known ostinato-based pieces include ...

played by the second violins. The principal theme is then introduced by the solo violin, while the second violins keep alternating the

III. Intermezzo

: \new Staff The movement was originally labeled "Dance" in the manuscript. The principal theme is introduced by the solo violin to a setting of

pizzicato Pizzicato (, ; translated as "pinched", and sometimes roughly as "plucked") is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of instrument : * On bowe ...

chords. The solo viola then joins the violin in a duet. Finally, the melody is played in a quartet of soloists.

IV. Finale (The Dargason)

: \new Staff :Incipit of the fourth movement The Finale was arranged from the "Fantasia on the Dargason" from Holst's

Second Suite in F for Military Band The Second Suite in F for Military Band ( Op. 28, No. 2) is Gustav Holst's second of his two suites for concert band. Although performed less frequently than the First Suite in E, it is still a staple of the band repertoire. The ''Second Suite'' ...

. The titular folk song "Dargason" is heard in the soft introduction. "Dargason" is then followed by "

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fo ...

" played in the cellos. The two folk songs are then played together until the end of the movement.

Recordings

Roy Goodman Roy Goodman (born 26 January 1951) is an English conductor and violinist, specialising in the performance and direction of early music. He became internationally famous as the 12-year-old boy treble soloist in the March 1963 recording of Alleg ...

and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra recorded the suite in 1997.Gramophone https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/holst-planets-st-pauls-suite

Notes

External links

*
"Gustavus Theodore Holst: St. Paul Suite Op. 29 #2"
at Classical Net {{Authority control Suites by Gustav Holst Compositions for string orchestra 1912 compositions