Non-Planets Holst

[vandermolen]

Who saw the Tony Palmer documentary? And was anyone else annoyed by how Palmer kept on using an actress who sounded almost, but not quite, like Imogen Holst for some of the voice-overs when he wanted to slip in some not quite accurate but racy information about his subject (e.g. that Holst "stayed" in a notorious street of prostitutes while taking a holiday in Algeria)? A pity, because it had some very interesting ideas, and some pretty good performances of (sadly chopped and shaped) extracts from his music.

Recorded it on BBC 4 a couple of days ago but only watched the first few minutes so far.  He did something similar with the voice over on his Vaughan Williams documentary, with a narrator who sort-of sounded like Vaughan Williams, only it wasn't Vaughan Williams.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I'll be watching it in a few days' time. Someone has uploaded it...


http://xhgc18.blogspot.com/2011/04/holst-in-bleak-midwinter.html


Edit: It's gone!

[John Whitmore]

I come in peace from the Havergal Brian forum. Here's something that may interest you:
Here's the last Hattoff LP. A Holst Centenary from 1974. It includes Music for the Masque, Alcestis of Euripides and a talk by Imogen Holst. I understand that this was a limited edition recording produced for St. Paul's School. Steve thinks there were around 200 made but I can't confirm this one way or the other. Here is the link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?15lb1hy34e49o

[Pierre]

I come in peace from the Havergal Brian forum. Here's something that may interest you:
Here's the last Hattoff LP. A Holst Centenary from 1974. It includes Music for the Masque, Alcestis of Euripides and a talk by Imogen Holst. I understand that this was a limited edition recording produced for St. Paul's School. Steve thinks there were around 200 made but I can't confirm this one way or the other. Here is the link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?15lb1hy34e49o

Thanks for this - listening to Imogen Holst's talk now (oh how stilted she sounds! But I guess that reflects her background).

[vandermolen]

Who saw the Tony Palmer documentary? And was anyone else annoyed by how Palmer kept on using an actress who sounded almost, but not quite, like Imogen Holst for some of the voice-overs when he wanted to slip in some not quite accurate but racy information about his subject (e.g. that Holst "stayed" in a notorious street of prostitutes while taking a holiday in Algeria)? A pity, because it had some very interesting ideas, and some pretty good performances of (sadly chopped and shaped) extracts from his music.

I recorded it off the TV but haven't watched it yet.  He did much the same with the Vaughan Williams documentary, in that he used an actor (for much of the autobiographical commentary) who sounded like Vaughan Williams - many of the reviews assumed that it was Vaughan Williams, which was extremely misleading.

[eyeresist]

I recorded it off the TV but haven't watched it yet.  He did much the same with the Vaughan Williams documentary, in that he used an actor (for much of the autobiographical commentary) who sounded like Vaughan Williams - many of the reviews assumed that it was Vaughan Williams, which was extremely misleading.

I don't mind the soundalike voiceover - it's a standard documentary device. But I think Palmer's work has been overrated, due to classical fans being pathetically grateful for anything at all in this vein.

[Dundonnell]

I don't mind the soundalike voiceover - it's a standard documentary device. But I think Palmer's work has been overrated, due to classical fans being pathetically grateful for anything at all in this vein.

I think that you are absolutely correct in this!

I used to admire Palmer's work, probably for the very reason you adduce, but now in retrospect the more I think about both the VW and Holst films the less I like them.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about RVW's sex life

[eyeresist]

I think that you are absolutely correct in this!

Thank you for pandering to my ego!

Unless a composer's sex life is especially important to the music, or else spectacular (Goossens!), it is pretty much a bore to hear about.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The man and woman in the street can't empathise with a composer's stylistic or structural problems, it can with his sexual ones (if there are any). It 'humanises' the composer... I think it trivialises him.

[karlhenning]

I need to give The Hymn of Jesus a fresh listen.

[Lisztianwagner]

I surely agree, the rest of Holst's compositions is not as appreciated as it would deserve, althought they're really beautiful.

Apart from the Planets, which I extremely love, I like the Somerset Rhapsody, the Suites for Military Band, The Cloud Messenger, First Choral Symphony, St Paul's Suite Op.29 No.2, The Wandering Scholar and Hammersmith, Prelude and Scherzo.

For Holst's music, you can take a look at this channel on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/13Orcun

Ilaria

[Muzition]

I played "Hammersmith" in wind band and fell in love with it.

[Lisztianwagner]

I played "Hammersmith" in wind band and fell in love with it.

How beautiful, Hammersmith is really good!!

Ilaria

[The new erato]

Savitri was the work thet really opened my ears to Holst.

[vandermolen]

I surely agree, the rest of Holst's compositions is not as appreciated as it would deserve, althought they're really beautiful.

Apart from the Planets, which I extremely love, I like the Somerset Rhapsody, the Suites for Military Band, The Cloud Messenger, First Choral Symphony, St Paul's Suite Op.29 No.2, The Wandering Scholar and Hammersmith, Prelude and Scherzo.

For Holst's music, you can take a look at this channel on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/13Orcun

Ilaria

The Cloud Messenger has some wonderful - almost minimalist, sections. It is a moving work.

[Pierre]

The Cloud Messenger has some wonderful - almost minimalist, sections. It is a moving work.

I agree - I was listening to this just the other day. I know this is corny, but the brass writing reminded me so much of certain John Williams film scores (for some reason particularly from that minimalist bit where the cloud reaches the 'snowy peaks of the Himalayas') which I'm a sucker for... and yes, I know who was there first!

[madaboutmahler]

I am certainly very keen to explore more in to Holst's output, obviously because of 'The Planets', which is a work I really love, but also because of my recent hearing of the 'Perfect Fool Suite', which was spectacular!

Shall be exploring more Holst soon, and will report back...

[vandermolen]

I am certainly very keen to explore more in to Holst's output, obviously because of 'The Planets', which is a work I really love, but also because of my recent hearing of the 'Perfect Fool Suite', which was spectacular!

Shall be exploring more Holst soon, and will report back...

Try 'The Cloud Messenger', 'Egdon Heath' 'Hammersmith' and the 'Lyric Movement for Viola' - they are all great.

[madaboutmahler]

Try 'The Cloud Messenger', 'Egdon Heath' 'Hammersmith' and the 'Lyric Movement for Viola' - they are all great.

Thank you for the suggestions - shall take a listen to all of these very soon. I imagine I'll be entering a Holst phase any time soon!

[Lisztianwagner]

Try 'The Cloud Messenger', 'Egdon Heath' 'Hammersmith' and the 'Lyric Movement for Viola' - they are all great.

"A Somerset Rhapsody", "A Choral Fantasia" and "St. Paul's Suite" as well, all definitely beautiful.