Holst

Gustav Theodore Holst (1874–1934) was an English composer and conductor best known for The Planets, a seven-movement orchestral suite that portrays astrological character rather than astronomical order. Composed in the 1910s, The Planets is noted for its colorful orchestration and distinctive modal harmonies, and it helped establish Holst as a leading figure in early 20th-century English music.

Holst studied at the Royal College of Music in London and pursued a career as a composer and teacher. His music often drew on English folk traditions and non-Western spiritual ideas, and he was associated with the English Musical Renaissance, a movement aimed at reviving English musical life.

Besides The Planets, Holst wrote a variety of works for orchestra, choral ensembles, and stage, including the tone poem Egdon Heath and the choral work Savitri, as well as the comic opera The Perfect Fool.

Holst's music is marked by modal harmony, distinctive orchestration, and rhythmic clarity. His work influenced subsequent English composers and remains a staple of concert repertoire, frequently performed by major orchestras and choirs.

Holst died in London in 1934, leaving a substantial body of work that helped shape 20th-century English classical music.