Nearing the End
Donald Macleod explores Holst's final years which involved, as the composer put it, 'too much gadding about. Plus music inspired by London.
Donald Macleod explores the life and career of the English composer Gustav Holst (1874-1912). Remembered by many as the man who wrote the Planets suite, Holst was much more than that. He was an intriguing character and the composer of a number of individual, compelling works. Holst's final years involved, in Holst's own words, "too much gadding about". Nevertheless, he found time to write several pieces celebrating London, the city where he'd spent most of his working life, and became involved in "the most startling event in Canterbury Cathedral since the murder of Thomas a Beckett".
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
A Moorside suite for brass band
Ensemble: Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Conductor: Garry Cutt.- CHANDOS: CHAN4553.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
The Song of the coming of Christ
Conductor: Hilary Davan Wetton. Choir: City of London Choir.- EM RECORDS : EMR-CD004.
- EM RECORDS.
- 17.
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
12 Songs Op.48 for voice and piano [words: Humbert Wolfe]
Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Singer: Patrizia Kwella.- HELIOS: CDH55042.
- HELIOS.
- 23.
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
Hammersmith prelude and scherzo Op.52 vers. for orchestra
Ensemble: RNCM Wind Orchestra. Conductor: Timothy Reynish.- CHANDOS: CHAN9697.
- CHANDOS.
- 10.
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
Lyric movement for viola and orchestra
Performer: Timothy Pooley. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Orchestra: Hall茅.- HELIOS: CDH55350.
- HELIOS.
- 9.
-
![]()
Gustav Holst
This have I done for my true love , The Dream-city and Betelgeuse
Choir: Finzi Singers. Singer: Rachel Wheatley. Conductor: Paul Spicer.- CHANDOS : CHAN-9425.
- CHANDOS.
- 12.
Broadcasts
- Fri 27 Mar 2015 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Fri 27 Mar 2015 18:30成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.