Album

If you've got The Planets and you're looking for more music by Holst, this is the disc to get. Or, rather, the pair of discs to get because this two-disc set contains most of Holst's great music beyond The Planets in performances that range from the sprightly to the weighty to the definitive. Christopher Hogwood, the driest of the English period instrument conductors, directs the American St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in what can only be called sprightly performances of Holst's delightful St. Paul Suite and his effervescent A Fugal Overture. Adrian Boult, the conductor who gave The Planets its premiere and who was arguably the greatest English conductor of the twentieth century, gives what can only be called weighty performances of Holst's Egdon Heath, his orchestral masterpiece; The Hymn of Jesus, his choral-orchestral masterpiece; and his ballet The Perfect Fool, his stage masterpiece. Imogen Holst, the composer's daughter, directs the Purcell Singers in what can only be called definitive performances of Holst's otherworldly Choral Hymns (4) from the Rig Veda, his evocative Partsongs (7), and his sublime The Evening Watch. Decca's stereo sound on the Boult and Holst recordings was superb in its day and the digital remastering only makes it better. Decca's digital sound on the Hogwood recordings was crisp in its day and the digital remastering is crisper.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Gustav Holst Composer Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda (4 Groups), Op.26, H.97-100...Choral Hymn from the Rig Veda, Third Group, H.99 Work Recorded 1965 12:16 Osian Ellis Harp, Imogen Holst Conductor
1	1.Hymn to the Dawn	3:02			$0.99
2	2.Hymn to the Waters	1:51			$0.49
3	3.Hymn to Vena	5:04			$0.99
4	4.Hymn to the Travellers	2:19			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer Sávitri, Op.25, H.96 (chamber opera) Work Recorded 1965 30:43 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Thomas Hemsley Bass, Imogen Holst Conductor, Dame Janet Baker Mezzo-Soprano, Purcell Singers Chorus/Choir, Robert Tear Tenor
5	Savitri! Savitri! I am Death	4:23			$0.99
6	Like a spectre of the forest	5:07			$0.99
7	I am with thee (Savitri's aria)	6:54			$0.99
8	Then enter, Lord; dwell with me	8:41			$1.49
9	Loneliness and pain are ended	5:38			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer 7 Partsongs, for soprano, female chorus and strings, Op.44, H.162 Work Recorded 1965 21:05 English Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Susan Longfield Soprano, Imogen Holst Conductor
10	1.Say, Who is This?	2:18			$0.99
11	2.O Love, I Complain	1:29			$0.49
12	3.Angel Spirits of Sleep	1:47			$0.49
13	4.When First We Met	2:00			$0.99
14	5.Sorrow and Joy	1:31			$0.49
15	6.Love on My Heart from Heaven Fell	2:14			$0.99
16	7.Assemble, All ye Maidens	9:46			$1.49
Gustav Holst Composer 2 Motets, Op.43, H.159-160 Work Recorded 1965 Imogen Holst Conductor, Purcell Singers Chorus/Choir
17	1.The Evening-Watch, H.159	4:26			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer A Fugal Concerto, for flute, oboe, and string orchestra, Op.40, No.2, H.152 Work Recorded 1992 7:26 Julia Bogorad Flute, Imogen Holst Conductor, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Kathryn Greenbank Oboe, Christopher Hogwood Conductor
18	1.Moderato	1:46			$0.49
19	2.Adagio	2:55			$0.99
20	3.Allegro	2:45			$0.99
CD 2 of 2
Gustav Holst Composer St. Paul's Suite, for strings, Op.29, No.2, H.118 Work Recorded 1992 12:33 Imogen Holst Conductor, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Orchestra, Christopher Hogwood Conductor
1	1.Jig: Vivace	3:05			$0.99
2	2.Ostinato: Presto	1:42			$0.49
3	3.Intermezzo: Andante con moto	4:10			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro (The Dargason)	3:36			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer The Perfect Fool (opera and ballet), Op.39, H.150 Work Recorded 1961 10:43 Imogen Holst Conductor, Sir Adrian Boult Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Dance of Spirits of Earth	4:33			$0.99
6	2.Dance of Spirits of Water	2:54			$0.99
7	3.Dance of Spirits of Fire	3:16			$0.99
Gustav Holst Composer Egdon Heath ('Homage to Hardy'), Op.47, H.172 Work Recorded 1961 Imogen Holst Conductor, Sir Adrian Boult Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	Egdon Heath ('Homage to Hardy'), Op.47, H.172	12:49			$1.99
Gustav Holst Composer The Hymn of Jesus, for 2 choruses, female semi-chorus, and orchestra, Op.37, H.140 Work Recorded 1962 Imogen Holst Conductor, Sir Adrian Boult Conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus Chorus/Choir
9	The Hymn of Jesus, for 2 choruses, female semi-chorus, and orchestra, Op.37, H.140	21:46			$3.49
Gustav Holst Composer A Moorside Suite, for brass band, H.173 Work Recorded 1977 Imogen Holst Conductor, Elgar Howarth Conductor, Grimethorpe Colliery Band Band
10	A Moorside Suite, for brass band, H.173	14:26			$2.49