A very welcome Holst
release from Lyrita, particularly given
the fact that this disc steers clear
of the better-known works and focuses
on more obscure pieces instead.
The mystical poet Walt
Whitman was one who appealed to, and
was set by, a number of British composers.
Stanford, for example, set him in his
Elegiac Ode, while Vaughan Williams
was later to draw significantly upon
Whitman for his Sea Symphony
and Towards the Unknown Region,
and Delius in Sea Drift. Holst
wrote his Walt Whitman Overture
in 1899, seven years after Whitman’s
death. Although a fairly early work,
showing the influence of composers such
as Wagner, Brahms and Mendelssohn, it
is nonetheless a fine piece, and contains
some extremely assured writing. This
is excellently demonstrated in this
confident, first-rate performance.
This is followed by
the beautiful Suite de Ballet,
with its varied moods – from gossamer
delicacy to ebullient dances and march-like
music - which receives evocative and
sympathetic treatment.
The composer Gordon
Jacob orchestrated the rest of the works
on the disc - the Suite in E
flat, Hampshire Suite and Moorside
Suite, which are possibly better
known in their original military/brass
band versions. All of these are, as
one might expect, jovial and buoyant.
Holst’s immense skill is on full view
here, not only in writing pieces that
are wonderfully characterful and rousing,
constantly full of interest as well
as emotionally engaging, but also in
often poignant interweaving of folksong
melodies. Excellent performances of
pieces that are well worth hearing.
Em Marshall
see also review
by Rob
Barnett and Stephen
Hall
for details
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Nicholas
Braithwaite 
