Gustav Holst(1874-1934)

An English composer, born in Cheltenham, Gustav Holst was also a music teacher notably at St.Paul’s Girls’ School and Morley College, London. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets. Having studied at the Royal College of Music in London his early work was influenced by Ravel, Grieg, Richard Strauss, and Ralph Vaughan Williams (who became a good friend), but most of his music is highly original with influences from Hindu spiritualism and English folk tunes. Holst's music is well known for unconventional use of metre and haunting melodies.