Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.But before that great work, in his use of Englsh folksongs, Gnostic texts and these Vedic hymns, one can discern Holst's search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900's.Some see composition of the Vedic Hymns as a turning point in Holst's compositional life.The quality is not completely consistent, and Holst remained true to his Western musical inheritance for the most part in setting them, but as art songs they are deeply felt and moving to hear.The nine songs are scored for mezzo-Soprano or baritone Voice.The texts are taken from the Rigveda, one of the four sacred texts of Hinduism and the oldest religious text in the world.The first set of three comprises Ushas, Varuna and Maruts, or Dawn, Sky and Stormclouds respectively.The second includes Indra (God of Storm and Battle), Varuna II (the Waters) and Song of the Frogs.The third group moves into the human sphere with Vac (Speech), Creation and Faith. / Piano Et Voix

The collection of nine Vedic Hymns (Op. 24) for solo Voice with Piano accompaniment marked a turning point in Holst's compositions. They were inspired by Hindu scripture and Indian raga, and first published in 1908. Vac (Speech) is the seventh movement, and is the first of the third group of hymns, where the theme shifts into the human sphere. Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was an English composer and teacher. Having studied under Stanford and Parry, he became a close friend of Vaughan Williams - they would often critique each other's work - and influenced composers such as Tippet and Britten. He is best remembered for his Planets suite. / Voix Et Piano

Barker Noelle (Compiler). Par BARKER NOELLE. Compiled by Noelle Barker CONTENTS BUSH, Geoffrey: The end of love (C - F) DOWLAND, John: Come away, come sweet love (F sharp - F) HATTON, John Liptrot: The Hag (A - F) HOLST, Gustav: Betelgeuse (B - F) IRELAND, John: My true love hath my heart (D - F sharp) PARRY, Hubert: Dirge in the woods (B - E) PINTO, George Frederick: Invocation to nature (D - F) PURCELL, Henry: Dear pretty youth (D - E); Sweeter than roses (B - E) SULLIVAN, Arthur: The Willow Song (B - E) THIMAN, Eric: I wandered lonely as a cloud (C - F) WEBB, William: As life what is so sweet (C - E) WELDON, John: The wakeful nightingale (D - F)/ Recueil / Chant et Piano