Gustav Holst: Vedic Hymns Op24 No 7 (Vac(Sleep)) Voice/Piano

Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.But before that great work in his use of Englsh folksongs Gnostic texts and these Vedic hymns one can discern Holst’s search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900’s. Some see composition of the Vedic Hymns as a turning point in Holst’scompositional life. The quality is not completely consistent and Holst remained true to his Western musical inheritance for the most part in setting them but as art songs they are deeply felt and moving to hear.The nine songsare scored for mezzo-Soprano or baritone Voice. The texts are taken from the Rigveda one of the four sacred texts of Hinduism and the oldest religious text in the world.The first set of three comprises Ushas Varuna and Maruts or Dawn Sky and Stormclouds respectively. The second includes Indra (God of Storm and Battle) Varuna II (the Waters) and Song of the Frogs. The third group moves into the human sphere with Vac (Speech) Creation and Faith.

In his use of authentic Englsh folksongs Gnostic texts and Vedic hymns one can discern Holst’s search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900’s. In A Dream of Christmas Holstset a medieval carol in Dorian mode modulating to D for the words of Christ manifesting his fascination medieval English music. Harmonies in the refrain are all in thirds and the piece is well within the abilities of amateursingers or Choruses.Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.

Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.But before that great work in his use of Englsh folksongs Gnostic texts and these Vedic hymns one can discern Holst’s search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900’s. In Savitri he makes use of modal styles bitonality austerity ofOrchestration in some places richness of texture in others and an ability to suggest Indian exoticism. The piece has a performance time of thirty minutes and has minimal staging requirements.

In his use of authentic Englsh folksongs Gnostic texts and Vedic hymns one can discern Holst’s search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900’s. In 1916 he published Six ChoralFolk Songs of which Swansea Town is the final number.The setting is a demanding one for amateur Chorus. There is a particularly effective passage in the middle that evokes a storm at sea before resolving the story with thesailors in a tavern anticipating another trip to sea.Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.