HAMMERSMITH OP.52

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GUSTAV HOLST COMPOSED 'HAMMERSMITH' (1930) TO REFLECT HIS IMPRESSIONS OF THIS LONDON BOROUGH NEAR THE RIVER THAMES. MVMT. I- PRELUDE, A HAUNTING DEPICTION OF THE RIVER. II- SCHERZO, THE SATURDAY NIGHT CROWDS. PERFORMED BY THE 1985 LSU WIND ENSEMBLE.

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Symphonic Band Performances

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

Peak in subgenre #65

Rights

public domain

Uploaded

October 07, 2009

Track Files

MP3

MP3 18.1 MB • 192 kbps • 13:09

Story behind the song

(1930) Hammersmith Op. 52
- Prelude- Scherzo 

In 1930 Holst was commissioned to write a piece for the BBC Military Band. The music was the outcome of long years of familiarity with the changing crowds and the changing river. Those Saturday night crowds, who were always good natured even when they were being pushed off the pavement into the middle of the traffic. And the stall holders in the narrow lane behind the Broadway, with their unexpected assortment of goods lit up by brillant flares. And the large woman at the fruit shop who always called him 'dearie' when he bought oranges for his Sunday picnics at St. Paul's ..."
The "Prelude" is supposed to represent the river that runs through this area, a river that Holst himself said, "goes on its way unnoticed and unconcerned." This is equally true of much of Holst's own music during this time. Holst also arranged Hammersmith for orchestra. It was this arrangement that premiered on the same day as William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast in 1931, and many people actually booed at Hammersmith's end.
It is worth mention that the original band version was not premiered until 1954, exactly twenty years after Holst's death.
Gustav Holst was born on 21 September 1874 in Cheltenham, England, the first of two children to Adolph and Clara von Holst.
Gustav was an oversensitive and somewhat miserable child. His eyes were weak, but no one realized that he had to wear spectacles. His chest was also weak, and again no one bothered much with his asthma. He had to rest while climbing stairs. In his youth, Gustav hated practicing the violin, but enjoyed the piano, which he had began to practice as soon as his fingers could reach the keyboard.
Holst obtained his first professional engagement in 1893, where he served as an organist at Wick Rissington, a small Cotswold village. Soon afterwards he also became organist and choirmaster of the choral society at Bourton-on-the-Water. These early experiences helped the young composer grow in his understanding of the workings of a choir. Choral music and the choral tradition in England would remain important throughout the rest of Holst's life.

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