Why is gustav holst famous

The years from to were the most creative period of the composer's life. In his final years Holst was to remember it as the most overwhelming musical event of his life. He accepted the Howland Memorial Prize from Yale University in for distinction in the arts and the gold medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society in He was appointed visiting lecturer in composition at Harvard University in January but soon after became ill.

On his return to England in the summer of that year, Holst's health continued to decline. He died on 25 May See more Holst News. See more Holst Music. Discover Music. See more Holst Pictures. See more Holst Guides. A musical family Born in Cheltenham in , Gustav Holst had professional musicians stretching back three generations in his family.

Early musical experience At 12 years old, Gustav took up the trombone. A lifelong friendship Shortly after celebrating his 21st birthday, Holst met Ralph Vaughan Williams, who became a lifelong friend and had a great influence on Holst's music.

A jobbing trombonist Unable to support himself by composition alone, Holst played the trombone professionally. Holst the teacher The two teaching posts for which Holst is probably best known were director of music at St Paul's Girls' School, Hammersmith - pictured - from until his death, and director of music at Morley College from to A taste for the exotic Holst was often inspired by literature.

Beni Mora Suite Holst was a keen rambler. Written in the stars During a holiday in Spain, the writer Clifford Bax — brother of the composer Arnold Bax - introduced Holst to astrology, an interest that inspired his suite The Planets. The Planets The first performance of The Planets was given on 29 September to an invited audience including Sir Henry Wood and most of the professional musicians in London.

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Share this page. Cheltenham history. Not a Guide to: Cheltenham Buy. A History of Cheltenham in Objects Buy. A Century of Cheltenham Buy. Cheltenham's Music Buy.

Discover Gloucestershire Show more books. Workhouses of Wales and the Welsh Borders Buy. Gloucester Buy. Long Live the King Buy. Stroud Buy. Gloucestershire Folk Tales for Children Buy. The Little Book of the Cotswolds Buy.

Tales from the Towpath Buy. Votes for Women Buy. His parents, Adolph von Holst and Clara Cox, too were related to the world of music. Unfortunately Clara died after the birth of their second child in February Gustav was only eight at that time.

Gustav was much neglected in his childhood. He was debile, had a weak sight and chest and suffered from neuritis. His hands used to quiver while playing piano or any other instrument. It was really hard for him to practice piano for long.