Known for movies

Short Info

DiedMay 25, 1934, London, United Kingdom
SpouseEmily Isobel Harrison
FactKnown for his orchestral suite, 'The Planets'.


Gustav Holst was born on September 21, 1874, in Cheltenham, England. His father, Adolf von Holst, was a piano teacher and his mother, Clara Cox, was a singer. Gustav had two younger brothers, Adolf and Emil. Gustav’s father died when he was eight years old, and his mother remarried when he was twelve. Gustav’s stepfather, Richard Moritz, was a violinist and conductor. Gustav was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School and then at the Royal College of Music in London.

Gustav’s first professional job was as a trombone player in the West London Orchestral Society. He also played the violin and piano. In 1900, Gustav married Isobel Harrison. The couple had two daughters, Imogen and Ursula.

Gustav’s compositional career began in earnest in 1901 with the composition of his “Fantastic Dance” for piano. This was followed by a number of other works for piano, orchestra, and voice. Gustav’s most famous work is “The Planets”, a suite for orchestra and voice which was composed between 1914 and 1916. “The Planets” is considered to be one of the most important works of the 20th century.

Gustav Holst died on May 25, 1934, in London. He was 59 years old.

General Info

Full NameGustav Holst
DiedMay 25, 1934, London, United Kingdom
ProfessionComposer, Music Educator, The Planets, First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, In the Bleak Midwinter
EducationRoyal College of Music, Pate's Grammar School, University College London, The Planets, First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, In the Bleak Midwinter
NationalityEnglish

Family

SpouseEmily Isobel Harrison
ChildrenImogen Holst
ParentsAdolph von Holst, Clara von Holst, The Planets, First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, In the Bleak Midwinter
SiblingsErnest Cossart, Nina Holst, The Planets, First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, In the Bleak Midwinter

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Around 1931, Holst was asked to compose music for a film. He attended a conference about the film, which was to be called The Bells (1931), based on a book by J.R. Ware, titled 'The Polish Jew'. The directors wanted Holst to finish the composition within a month so that recording could start. The music was to contain, "a storm prelude, a wedding feast and some dance music", and was to be written for small orchestra. When he was done composing, the recording sessions soon took place. Holst was very disappointed when the directors asked him to make changes in the scores. He became even more upset when he viewed a private screening of the movie and could not hear anything that was recognizable in his music, the recording and speakers both being so poor. The film was scheduled to be released in 1931, but in the end it was sold off to an American company to be premiered in the USA. Mysteriously enough, it was never released and neither the company nor film can found. The scores which Holst composed have also disappeared, and biographer Michael Short writes of Holst, "the only person who could remember them was an official of Associated Sound Films, who remembered a two track sequence in which a brass band and a pipe band, playing their own tunes, marched from different directions and came together.".
2Known for his orchestral suite, 'The Planets'.
3Brother of Ernest Cossart and uncle of Valerie Cossart.

Movies

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Grand Tour2016TV Series writer - 1 episode
How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change2016Documentary writer: "The Planets, Op.32, Mars, the Bringer of War"
Mozart in the Jungle2015TV Series writer - 1 episode
Home & Family2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
Mop King2013writer: "The Planets Suite" - as Gustav Theodore Holst
Play On!2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
How I Met Your Mother2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
Music High2012writer: "March from Second Suite in F"
Jagten2012music: "In the Bleak Midwinter" - as Holst
Upstairs Downstairs2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
Metal Evolution2011TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
Keyhole2011writer: "The Planet, Opus 32: Neptune"
The Tree of Life2011writer: "Hymn to Dionysus"
Ponto da poesia2011Video writer: "Mars - Bringer of War"
DexterTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
BBC Proms2010TV Series writer - 1 episode
The World Within2010Documentary writer: "Mars, the Bringer of War"
Sherlock2010TV Series writer - 1 episode
Inspector Lewis2010TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Planets: An HD Odyssey2010Video writer: "The Planets"
Invictus2009music: "World in Union '95" 1995, "World In Union '95" 1995 / writer: "World in Union '95" 1995, "World In Union '95" 1995
Capitalism: A Love Story2009Documentary writer: "Mars"
Knowing2009writer: "The Planets: Op. 43: IV Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity"
Doctor Who at the Proms2009TV Movie writer: "Jupiter" from The Planets.
De l'autre côté du lit2008writer: "The Planets - Op.32 - Suite for large Orchestra"
New York, I Love You2008writer: "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" 1916
O Meu Alien2008Short writer: "Venus, The Bringer Of Peace"
Sarah Brightman: Symphony in Vienna2008TV Movie "Running"
The Choir: Boys Don't Sing2008TV Mini-Series music - 1 episode
A Christmas Celebration: Live from Dublin2007Video music: "In the Bleak Midwinter"
Amazing Grace2007/IVideo music: "I Vow To Thee, My Country"
Niji no megami2006writer: "The Planets, Op.32: Jupiter", "The Planets, Op.32: Venus", "The Planets, Op.32: Neptune"
Breakdown2006/IShort "The Planets, Opus 32"
Methods in Good Breeding2006Short "The Planets - Mars, The Bringer Of War"
Luis, Él y Luci2006Short writer: "The Planets: VII. Neptune - The Mystic"
The Curse of the Were-Rabbit2005performer: "The Planets Opus 32:2. Venus, The Bringer of Peace" / writer: "The Planets Opus 32:2. Venus, The Bringer of Peace"
McLibel2005Documentary writer: "The Planets Suite"
Mr 30002004writer: "Jupiter"
Mona Lisa Smile2003writer: "For the Splendor of Creation"
Drakengard2003Video Game writer: "The Planets"
New Guy2003music: "Venus, The Bringer of Peace", "Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age", "Neptune, The Mystic"
The Heart of Me2002music: "In the Bleak Midwinter" 1906 - as Holst
EV Nova2002Video Game writer: "Mars: The Bringer of War"
The Yards2000writer: "Saturn"
The Woman Chaser1999writer: "The Planets: First Movement, Mars the Bringer of War"
Cider with Rosie1998TV Movie music: "In the Bleak Midwinter" 1906 - uncredited
Paradise Road1997writer: "Jupiter"
Merry Christmas from Vienna1996TV Special music: "In the Bleak Midwinter"
The Way to Dusty Death1996TV Movie "The Planet Suite" / music: "I Vow To Thee My Country"
A Midwinter's Tale1995writer: "In The Bleak Midwinter"
David Copperfield: 15 Years of Magic1994TV Special documentary writer: "Mars, the Bringer of War", "Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age"
Only Fools and Horses....1993TV Series writer - 1 episode
Chasing the Wind1991Video documentary short writer: "Mars, the Bringer of War"
Paper Mask1990music: "I Vow To Thee My Country" - uncredited
How to Get Ahead in Advertising1989writer: "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from the Planets Op. 32"
The Magic of David Copperfield XI: The Explosive Encounter1989TV Special writer: "Venus, the Bringer of Peace", "Mars, the Bringer of War", "Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age"
Resurrected1989music: "I Vow to Thee My Country" - uncredited
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid1987writer: "I Vow to Thee My Country"
Zeppelin - Das fliegende Schiff1987Video documentary writer: "Mars, the Bringer of War" - uncredited
Another Country1984music: "I Vow to Thee, My Country"
The Planets1983TV Movie documentary writer: "Mars, Bringer of War", "Venus, Bringer of Peace", "Mercury, the Winged Messenger", "Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity", "Saturn, Bringer of Old Age", "Uranus, the Magician", "Neptune, the Mystic"
The Right Stuff1983writer: "Mars, Jupiter, & Neptune"
Ruy, el pequeño Cid1980TV Series writer - 26 episodes
Flambards1979TV Mini-Series music - 1 episode
Existió otra humanidad1977Documentary writer: "The Planets" - as Gustav Theodore Holst
Kuumat kundit1976Documentary writer: "Mars the Bringer of War"
The Man Who Fell to Earth1976writer: "Excerpts from 'The Planets Suite'"
Space: 19991976TV Series writer - 1 episode
Mondo Trasho1969writer: "The Bringer of War"
The Avengers1967TV Series writer - 1 episode
Issues and Answers1960TV Series "The Blacksmith"
Making Tracks1956Short music: "St. Paul's Suite" - uncredited
Quatermass II1955TV Mini-Series writer - 6 episodes
The Quatermass Experiment1953TV Series music - 6 episodes
A Queen Is Crowned1953Documentary music: "I Vow to Thee My Country" - uncredited
Biografía de la locomotora1948Short documentary as Gustav Theodore Holst, "Themes from:
The Birth of the Robot1936Short music: "Mars" - uncredited

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Luv U2013Short
Meditations of a Taxi Driver2013Short
Helmut Roar2013Short
Mark, the Bringer of War2012Short
Keep Watching the Skies!2011Short
Kung Fu Idols2006Video short
The Planets2003TV Movie
Fe Fi Fo Fooey!1985Short from "Uranus the Magician"
Fei tou mo nu1982from "The Planets: Mars, the Bringer of War"
Sir Adrian Boult Conducts a Programme of English Music with London Philharmonic Orchestra1970TV Special from "The Perfect Fool"
The Bells1931

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rebel Scum2016TV Short background score
La Pucelle2015Short stock music
Holst: In the Bleak Midwinter2011TV Movie stock music
You Can2001Video short stock music
Patrick Stewart Narrates 'The Planets'1993Video documentary
Space: 19991976TV Series composer - 1 episode
The Bells1931conductor

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Day Out1985TV Series documentaryHimself - Subject

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Holst: In the Bleak Midwinter2011TV MovieHimself - Subject

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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