COMPOSED IN 1930 ON COMMISSION FROM THE BBC, GUSTAV HOLST'S 'HAMMERSMITH' IS A TWO-PART TONE POEM THAT CREATES A MUSICAL IMPRESSION OF THE THE HAMMERSMITH SECTION OF LONDON. PERFORMED BY THE 1969 UNIV. OF ILLINOIS SYMPHONIC BAND.
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Symphonic
Charts
Peak #1,033
Peak in subgenre #9
Uploaded
August 15, 2009
Track Files
MP3
MP3 17.7 MB • 192 kbps • 12:53
Story behind the song
Composed in 1930 on commission from the BBC, Gustav Holst's Hammersmith is a two-part tone poem that creates a musical impression of the Hammersmith section of London where Holst taught school for nearly 30 years. Originally written for military band, Hammersmith was later transcribed for orchestra and received its premiere performance in that form in 1931. Curiously, the original and more effective version for band was not performed until 1954, 20 years after Holst's death. The Prelude section of this work evokes the quiet river flowing, apparently unconcerned and often unnoticed, through Hammersmith. Although the use of the tuba and euphonium in the opening phrases of this section create a rather ominous setting, the Prelude carries a contemplative mood emphasized by a warmth and sensitivity which Holst rarely allowed himself in his other compositions. The Prelude gives way to the Scherzo section, which paints a musical picture of the lively and good-natured people who populate the Hammersmith section of London. The raucous good humor of the Saturday night crowds, the street vendors hawking their wares, and the often chaotic mood of city life are all given their due in the overlapping snatches of musical lines that are passed between the instrumental sections. As the Scherzo closes, the reflective mood of the Prelude reemerges to conclude the work on a note of contentment and tranquillity. The Lyric movement of this piece which was included in the orchestral version, but not in the original band composition was written during Holst's last illness and shows a tender austerity in its soulful solo viola line and lyrical orchestration. The most impressionistic of Holst's compositions for band, Hammersmith shows the apogee of his compositional skill and understanding of the expressive capabilities of the concert band. It conveys the concert band away from the limitations of the parade field and creates a solid foundation for band repertoire to take its place as a serious musical medium. ~ All Music Guide In 1930, Gustav Holst composed a work for military band (later rewritten for orchestra) entitled Hammersmith to reflect his impressions of the town, having lived across the river in nearby Barnes for nearly forty years. It begins with a haunting musical depiction of the River Thames flowing underneath Hammersmith Bridge. Holst was a music teacher at St Paul's Girls' School, where he composed many of his most famous works, including The Planets suite. The music wing of the school is named after him. Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London approximately 5 miles (8 km) west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames. One of west London's key transport hubs and commercial and employment centres, and home to several multinational company offices, it is focused on the two London Underground stations, bus station and road network node at Hammersmith Broadway. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.[
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