Holst: The Morning of the Year; The Golden Goose; King Estmere

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Some composers really deserve their reputation as artists whose fame rests on a single work, but with Holst the popularity of The Planets really has obscured the large quantity of good music he wrote in other forms. Part of the problem also stemmed from his daughter, Imogene, who was severely critical of her father's work and whose baleful influence persists to this day. These three choral ballets contain a large measure of delightful and wholly characteristic music. It's crime that we have had to wait until now for a complete recording of them, and fortunately these performances make a strong case for many more. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

The Golden Goose: Prelude
The Golden Goose: Sound Drum and Trumpet
The Golden Goose: A Mummers' Play, A Mummers' PLay
The Golden Goose: The Mummers' Play
The Golden Goose: Vainly Awaiting, Some Beguiling
The Golden Goose: The Human Organ
The Golden Goose: Execution
The Golden Goose: Sleep
The Golden Goose: Dance Of TheThree Girls
The Golden Goose: The Goose Dance
The Golden Goose: Love, Sweet Love HAth Come At Last
The Golden Goose: Sound Drum And Trumpet Play
The Morning Of TheYear: Introduction
The Morning Of TheYear: The Voice Of Nature
The Morning Of TheYear: Dance Of The Headman And Hobby-Horse
The Morning Of TheYear: The Calling Song
The Morning Of TheYear: Dance OF The Youths
The Morning Of TheYear: Dance Of The Maidens
The Morning Of TheYear: The Mating Dance
The Morning Of TheYear: Spring Is Here To Set You Free
The Morning Of TheYear: O Dance Of Love, O Joy Of Dancing
The Morning Of TheYear: Dance Of The Youngest Couple
The Morning Of TheYear: You Have Shown My Mystery
King Estmere: Hearken To Me Gentlemen
King Estmere: Reade Me, Reade Me Dear Brother
King Estmere: Now Christ Thee Save, Good King Adland
King Estmere: Down Then Came That Maiden Fair
King Estmere: Then Bespake Her Father Dear
King Estmere: They Had Not Ridden Scarce A Mile
King Estmere: She Sent One After King Estmere
King Estmere: My Mother Was A Western Woman
King Estmere: Then King Estemere He Took His Harp
King Estmere: O Lady, This Is Thy Own True Love
King Estmere: Or Forced Them All To Flee

Amazon.com

Some composers really deserve their reputation as artists whose fame rests on a single work, but with Holst the popularity of The Planets really has obscured the large quantity of good music he wrote in other forms. Part of the problem also stemmed from his daughter, Imogene, who was severely critical of her father's work and whose baleful influence persists to this day. These three choral ballets contain a large measure of delightful and wholly characteristic music. It's crime that we have had to wait until now for a complete recording of them, and fortunately these performances make a strong case for many more. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Holst Choral Masterpieces.......2000-11-07

Gustav Holst was an underrated composer during his lifetime, and remains under-appreciated today (with the obvious exception of THE PLANETS). He struggled to escape the shadow of the momumental British composers that were his near-contemporaries, as well as his own less-than-stellar reputation as a conductor. Yet his music is extremely influential and rewarding, infused with both an undeniable English-ness and hints of his fascination with mystical underpinnings.

Ever since I fell in love with THE PLANETS at an early age, I've been on a quest to discover the non-PLANETS music of Holst. He wrote some wonderful band music that I played in school, as well as some magnificent string pieces. It's his choral music, however, that really holds little-known treasures.

Every note on this recording is a marvel...this is exactly what one would expect when thinking of "British" music, with all of the attendant pomp and majesty. Holst even "out-Englishes" such masters as Elgar and Vaughan Williams, yet he has a style all his own.

I recommend this to all fans of choral works...and recommend Holst to anyone who appreciates great music.

Music Review: