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What do you consider to be your favorite piece by Gustav Holst?

Currently, my favorite is the Second Suite in F, but I haven't listened to some of his other pieces.

I rather partial to most of the Planets. However, I haven't heard much of Host outside the Planets and what we play in band.

I really like his 1st Suite in Eb for Military Band. I am a trumpet player though so he tended to write great parts for my instrument in all of his work.

I'm tempted by St Pauls Opus because I played it in an orchestra once, but I'm tempted not to say it because it was a bastard to play!

Coriolis wrote:I rather partial to most of the Planets. However, I haven't heard much of Host outside the Planets and what we play in band.

I would agree, I haven't really listened to much else than The Planets, though you can listen to a handful of his other works here.

I don't know if his Second Suite is supposed to be played by an orchestra, but I suspect I might like it more if it were. I heard some vague similarities between the Fantasia and Jupiter. I liked his Song Without Words on its own merits, but I don't really like the March or the Blacksmith's Song, and I'm sure if I heard both movements played by an orchestra I'd still feel the same way.

I also like his string and organ piece Thaxted (but not only because it uses one of Jupiter's theme).

I couldn't load his choral works pages for some reason.

For now, I'd stick with The Planets.

We tried 2nd Suite in F in concert band, and it is pretty. Probably my favorite Holst piece out there.

My highschool band director loved Holst. You could call our spring concert an 'Evening with Holst', because we'd do Jupiter (from the planets), as well as the first and second suites and the Moorside Suite.

I have to say, Jupiter and second Suite are my favorite pieces of his that I've played, though I have never performed Mars.

CaptainChewbacca wrote:My highschool band director loved Holst. You could call our spring concert an 'Evening with Holst', because we'd do Jupiter (from the planets), as well as the first and second suites and the Moorside Suite.

I have to say, Jupiter and second Suite are my favorite pieces of his that I've played, though I have never performed Mars.

Is Jupiter the one in 5/4, or is that Mars? I can naver remember.

Actually, now that I think of it, the year before my rookie year in marching band, the band played The Planets for a show. It was pretty friggin' awesome, though the band wasn't excellent that year.

Mars is in 5/4

And the Suites in Eb and F are written for band, aren't they?