Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was born in the English town of Cheltenham. His father, an organist and professional musician, saw to it that he received instruction in piano, organ, violin, and later trombone. He studied composition at the Royal College of Music in London with Charles Villiers Stanford. His early career was divided between composing and playing the trombone. Eventually, he was able to procure a teaching position, which enabled him to give up having to play in orchestras and allowed him to concentrate on composing. His early music showed the influence of Wagner and Richard Strauss. Later, English folksong became important to him, and finally, the works of Ravel played a role in his music as well. Remembered today for only one work, the orchestral suite, The Planets. Holst only wrote chamber music, with the exception of his Terzetto, in the first part of his career.
Holst's Seven Scottish Airs for Piano Quintet was composed in 1906 and published two years later. Holst selected seven Scottish folk melodies and created a short suite in the form of a rhapsody with one tune flowing into the next with minimal development. The idea was to highlight the beauty of the tunes rather than creating a complex transformation. The folk tunes he chose are: 1. The women are a'gane wud (the women are going crazy or wild), 2. My love's in Germany, 3. O how could you gang lassie (how could you go or leave girl), 4. Stu mo run (joy of my heart or possibly red is the path), 5. We will take the good old way, 6. O gin I were where Gadie rins (if only I were where the Gadie flows--expresses a longing for home), 7. Auld lang syne. The piece showcases Holst's talent for arranging folk music.
Sadly, this beautiful work is rarely played as Holst intended it, that is to say, as a work for piano and string quartet. Instead, one usually hears it in various arrangements for orchestra, where it loses its charm and intimacy. We are pleased to present the original edition of this piece. It is not at all difficult to play as Holst intended for amateur ensembles.
