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Sublime Suites: Celebrating Gustav Holst
Holst was born 150 years ago in September of 1874. He composed music for a variety of mediums and was an early pioneer of writing music for wind bands. Holst preferred a life of composing and teaching to being in the limelight. His lifelong friend and fellow composer Ralph Vaughn Williams had more influence on Holst’s music than anyone else.
The program begins with the Vanden High School Wind Ensemble performing Holst’s “Moorside Suite,” a work in three movements originally written for brass band. Commissioned by the BBC, it is the only Holst composition written for brass band. The Vanden Wind Ensemble is led by the principal member of the Solano Winds tuba section, Dr. Christopher Hulett.
Solano Winds then takes the stage for their performance of Holst’s “First Suite in Eb for Military Band.” The First Suite is perhaps Holst’s most iconic composition for wind band. Like much of Holst’s music, the piece evokes many of the folk songs of British heritage, including the theme of the first movement that is treated with multiple variations.
Concluding the first half of the program, Solano Winds member Melinda Ellis will conduct the band in “Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity,” the fourth movement of Holst’s most famous composition, “The Planets.” Originally composed for symphonic orchestra, Holst himself transcribed this movement for the concert band. “Jupiter” showcases Holst’s masterful interplay between various themes with the exuberance that he saw as Jupiter’s vitality.
To open the second half of the program, the band moves to the music of a composer who was contemporary to Holst. Through Vaughn Williams, Holst became an admirer of the music of Maurice Ravel, and combined that with a love of English folksongs to create his own unique style. Solano Winds will present “Boléro,” composed in 1928, an extraordinary piece that catapulted Ravel to international fame.
Solano Winds and the Vanden High School Wind Ensemble will combine on stage for the final two selections. First for the combined groups will be another movement from “The Planets” by Holst: the first movement, “Mars, the Bringer of War.” The insistent rhythms in 5/4 time are reminiscent of the relentless rhythm of the snare drum in “Boléro.”
The program concludes with the combined bands playing three movements from “Suite from the Star Wars Epic” by John Williams. After opening with “Princess Leia’s Theme,” the music evokes the relentless sounds from “Mars” with “Imperial March” and “Forest Dance” before concluding with the Main Title music from “Star Wars.”
Tickets for the performance are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. They are available at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre Box Office or at solanowinds.org. The performance begins at 7:30 PM.
Solano Winds is a community concert band with approximately seventy volunteer musicians. They rehearse on Tuesday evenings and always welcome new members!
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2657692-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2657692-2
