Gustav Holst Instruments

Improved Essays
Attila Eguia 12/31/17
Period 2

First Suite in E-Flat for Military Band

The First Suite in E-Flat for Military Band Op.28, No.1 by Gustav Holst is particularly unpopular due to it’s somewhat esoteric instrumentation,as the song was composed for a military band which is considered to be a wind orchestra instead.Orchestras with string instruments are far more popular and is the reason for its unpopularity outside of wind bands. It being so praised, it’s known beloved and popular in concert band repertoire ,I’ve heard this piece many times before deciding to finally rehearse
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His unique compositional style was the product of many influences such as Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss being most crucial early in his development.(The Gustav Holst archive at the Britten-Pears Foundation)
Officially premiered in 1920 at the Royal Military School of Music, the music was originally completed in 1909 within the same time period the Second Suite in F for Military Band written in 1911 and premiered in 1922.(The Gustav Holst archive at the Britten-Pears Foundation) .This was received very well as it was pioneering great works of music with the combinations of only Brass,Woodwind,and Percussion.Holst was also quite famous before presenting the first suite due “The Planet suite” so many people knew of him.Due to a lack of information people have no reason what inspired him to compose First Suite.The structure present in First Suite is the theme which is changed and is varied throughout different movements, there is vast contrast in between the movements but at the same time the theme shines through.The instrumentation consist of Brass,Woodwind,and percussion,cornets were still seen as superior to trumpets as evident in the fact that they had more of the melodies in the different

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