Gustav Holst:
music-making, comradeship and the Simple Life

8 May – 19 June 2004

2004 marks a double anniversary for the British 20th century composer and musician Gustav Holst who was born in Cheltenham. It is 130 years since his birth and 70 years since his death. This exhibition will take a fresh look at aspects of Holst’s life and work, so many of which relate to the ideas of Arts & Crafts Movement.

Three strong themes dominate. The first, journeys of the mind, focuses on Holst’s many enthusiasms including his youthful involvement with William Morris and the Hammersmith Socialist Society. He was also interested in mysticism from an early age and his researches into Indian philosophy and astrology were reflected in his compositions including his most famous piece, The Planets. His whole approach including his common touch and his lack of interest in material possessions – he never owned his own house – reflects these ideas.

Holst grew up in Cheltenham and remained attached to the town and the surrounding Cotswold countryside. The second theme, a rural journey, looks at the role of nature and the countryside in his work. He wrote ‘walking always set me thinking of new tunes’ and like contemporaries such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Percy Grainger he incorporated folk tunes into his compositions.

The final theme is based around music making. Holst was known and loved by many of his contemporaries as a musician, teacher and conductor. He believed that teaching was an art in itself and encouraged music making throughout the country working with professionals and amateurs in cities, towns and villages from London to Glasgow, Blackburn and Thaxted in Essex.

The exhibition will include items from the Art Gallery & Museum’s collections not normally available to the public as well as loans from private individuals and institutions such as the Royal College of Music.

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