Holst - The Perfect Fool (Ballet Suite), Op. 39 - (2/2)

The Planets! Merely the mention of the name Gustav Holst brings to mind one work in most people's minds; 'The Planets'. And, indeed, 'The Planets' is a marvel.

However, Holst composed over 200 pieces of beautiful music including Operas, Ballets (this Suite came from Holst's Opera of the same name), Songs, Songs without Words, Choral Works, Symphonies, Chamber Pieces, Choral Hymns...

The Perfect Fool, originally written by Holst as an opera for which Holst also wrote the libretto after his friend, playwright, journalist, poet and lyricist, Clifford Bax, brother of composer Arnold Bax, refused to write it. The opera was poorly received by the public and was quickly forgotten.

But here, in Holst's reduction of the Opera to a Ballet Suite, Holst took the best of the operatic score and created a beautiful work for Orchestra.

All four pieces are rich and full of texture yet minimal enough at just the right times to make the piece come alive for the listener. The story is that of a Wizard who, (in the 1st movement) invokes with trombone, the Spirits of Earth (heard dancing in the 2nd movement); invokes with Viola, the Spirits of Water (heard dancing in the 3rd movement), and, with a climactic unity of the orchestra, the Spirits of Fire (crackling and burning in the 4th movement).

Here are the third and fourth movements, 'Dance of Spirits of Water' (an Allegro) and 'Dance of Spirits of Fire' (an Allegro moderato - Andante), respectively, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with the great Andre Previn at the helm.

Enjoy!

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[Numboss]

Wonderful. Much appreciate the generous information, which provides an historical background to the music. Keep up the great work.

[billystewart4]

Thanks A... (Numboss)

I've always wondered why Holst has been overlooked. "The Planets" is great, but his other works are, as you said on your comment on the 1st part, "unique" and I love what he contributed to the move toward 20th Century and modern composition.

Best to you sir,

Billy

[MELONMOVIES]

@MrBratschissimo Yep!!! XD

[MrBratschissimo]

@MELONMOVIES RCMJD sinfonia? :)

[MELONMOVIES]

Played this in a concert today on Cor Anglais! Such a great piece!!! :D

[NonInflatable]

That sequence of notes at 1:50 is truly extraordinary.

Thanks for posting this!

[Glyndwr65]

I love this piece, so little known but so romantic.

[gudrina]

Would you have this in the piano version for two pianos?

[ilepolnac]

cool ending... the tension is just so high until the surprising note

[Vagabond1951]

Thanks for posting this sadly neglected work. Recordings of it are scarce, but I've always loved the music, especially this second section. So delicate and exotic....

[Sorsha666]

This piece has really difficult parts. At some point there is a chromatic riddle, which is so difficult to play...

Even so thank you for uploading this, and in such great quality too. I have an impression on how to play now.

[13Orcun]

i m waiting from you more holst music.

best regards, Orçun