Holst. The Great Composers

by Imogen Holst

Book by Holst, Imogen

93 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1972

About the author

Imogen Clare Holst CBE (12 April 1907 – 9 March 1984) was a British composer, arranger, conductor, teacher, musicologist and festival administrator; and the only child of the composer Gustav Holst.

She is particularly known for her educational work at Dartington Hall in the 1940s, and for her 20 years as joint artistic director of the Aldeburgh Festival.

In addition to composing music, she wrote composer biographies, much educational material and several books on the life and works of her father.

Reviews

[Colby Savary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immensely important composer to me. Reading more about how he lived, the way he saw the world and the circumstances behind his music give such depth and more meaning.

If you are new listening to classical music, or want to listen to more - make sure you listen intently and read about the piece. Context is everything!

[Scott Benowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Numerous music historians written biographies about the English composer Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934).
This biography is particularly interesting because the author was the daughter of Gustav Holst, as well as a notably accomplished composer herself. Imogen Holst (1907 - 1984) became very familiar with numerous aspects of the history of classical music as well as the processes by which composers develop their own unique styles when she was relatively young.
Anyone who is interested in European baroque music will thoroughly enjoy reading Imogene Holst's biography of her father, Gustav Holst.

[Sabina M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite helpful to get to understand his works. I am currently working on an analysis on his Terzetto, and I found this book to be quite interesting, laced with a bit of humour and easy reading.