Composer Of The Week

We often think of composers as solitary geniuses, scribbling away at their masterpieces, working alone. But this isn’t always the case. Gustav Holst, most famous for composing The Planets, struggled all his life with neuritis, a condition that made his arms feel like “jelly overcharged with electricity.” It was frequently impossible for him to play or even write, so, to bring his vision of our solar system to life, he needed help. This week, Donald Macleod charts Holst’s interplanetary expedition and discovers the unsung heroes who placed him amongst the stars.Music Featured: The Planets, Op 32 Toccata, H 153 Symphony in F Major, Op 8, H 47 “The Cotswolds” (2nd mvt, Elegy, Molto adagio & 3rd mvt, Scherzo, Presto - Allegretto) Sita, Op 23, H 89 (Interlude) The Mystic Trumpeter, Op 18 Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Op 26 (3rd Group, H99) The Hymn of Jesus, Op37 / H 140 (Hymn II, Hymn III, Hymn IV) 5 Partsongs, Op 12, H 61 St Paul’s Suite, Op 29, No 2 Ballet music from 'The Perfect Fool' H150 (Op 39)