BBC Concert Orchestra, Leigh O’Hara, Paulina Voices & Em Marshall-Luck - Fide et Literis (2024) [Digital Download 24/48]

EM Records is delighted and proud to announce the release of a new disc featuring World Premiere Recordings of important works by one of Britain's finest composers, Gustav Holst. As well as composing, Holst held several significant teaching posts, the most important and longest-lasting of which was at St Paul's Girls' School; the Musical Directorship of this brought him joy and delight; it also provided solace in the form of his sound-proof room in the glorious Music Wing, into which he was able to retreat and gain the peace and quiet he required for composition. Holst - who threw himself wholeheartedly into the life of the school - gratefully composed a number of works specifically for the school and its pupils, including all the works presented on this disc.

These works demonstrate perfectly how uncompromising Holst was in his pursuit of quality - the pieces on this disc are no less carefully textured and well-crafted than his works for professional ensembles and they highlight Holst's integrity as a composer, along with his love for and appreciation of St Paul's Girls' School.

As well as the much-loved St Paul's Suite and Brook Green Suite (the latter performed at the last concert that Holst ever attended), this disc features the World Premiere Recording of Gavotte - originally part of the Brook Green Suite; the Playground Song and the Seven Choruses from Alcestis, with its heart-felt and deeply-moving words by Euripides.

We are also delighted to enable music-lovers to hear The Vision of Dame Christian, a deeply-engaging Masque composed for the four-hundredth anniversary of St Paul's School to celebrate the Founder John Colet and his mother, with words by the then-High Mistress, Frances Gray; this important and beautiful work here receives its First Professional Recording. Holst stipulated that the Masque should not be taken out of the school, so we are even more pleased to have been able to honour Holst's wishes by recording it in the beautiful wooden-panelled Great Hall of St Paul's Girls' School, with current pupils at the school providing the choir.

The works are also performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leigh O'Hara (Director of Music at St Paul's Girls' School at the time of recording) and also feature Old Paulina, EM Records Director and reciter Em Marshall-Luck as the narrator.

Tracklist:
01. Holst- St Paul’s Suite- Jig
02. Holst- St Paul’s Suite- Ostinato
03. Holst- St Paul’s Suite- Intermezzo
04. Holst- St Paul’s Suite- Finale (The Dargason)
05. Holst- Brook Green Suite- Prelude
06. Holst- Brook Green Suite- Air
07. Holst- Brook Green Suite- Dance
08. Holst- Gavotte
09. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “What escape and where…”
10. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “Daughter of Phelias, fare thee well…”
11. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “Oh, a house that loves the stranger…”
12. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “Ah me! Farewell, unfalteringly brave!…”
13. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “Advance, advance…”
14. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “I have sojourned in the Muse’s land…”
15. Holst- Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides- “There be many shapes of mystery…”
16. Holst- Playground Song
17. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Prelude
18. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Chorus
19. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Hymn
20. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Interlude
21. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Choral Dance
22. Holst- The Vision of Dame Christian- Finale


Thanks to the Original customer!