Fide et Literis BBC Concert Orchestra, Leigh O’Hara, Paulina Voices & Em Marshall-Luck

• Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934): St Paul’s Suite:
• 1 Holst: St Paul’s Suite: Jig 03:38
• 2 Holst: St Paul’s Suite: Ostinato 02:01
• 3 Holst: St Paul’s Suite: Intermezzo 04:20
• 4 Holst: St Paul’s Suite: Finale (The Dargason) 03:39
• Brook Green Suite:
• 5 Holst: Brook Green Suite: Prelude 02:02
• 6 Holst: Brook Green Suite: Air 03:08
• 7 Holst: Brook Green Suite: Dance 02:31
• Gavotte:
• 8 Holst: Gavotte 02:08
• Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides:
• 9 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “What escape and where...” 03:07
• 10 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “Daughter of Phelias, fare thee well...” 02:46
• 11 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “Oh, a house that loves the stranger...” 02:52
• 12 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “Ah me! Farewell, unfalteringly brave!...” 01:46
• 13 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “Advance, advance...” 02:15
• 14 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “I have sojourned in the Muse’s land...” 05:33
• 15 Holst: Seven Choruses from the Alcestis of Euripides: “There be many shapes of mystery...” 00:58
• Playground Song:
• 16 Holst: Playground Song 01:07
• The Vision of Dame Christian:
• 17 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Prelude 04:55
• 18 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Chorus 05:09
• 19 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Hymn 00:48
• 20 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Interlude 02:53
• 21 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Choral Dance 05:00
• 22 Holst: The Vision of Dame Christian: Finale 07:12
• Total Runtime 01:09:48

Info for Fide et Literis

EM Records is delighted and proud to announce the release of a new disc featuring World Premiere Recordings of important works by one of Britain's finest composers, Gustav Holst. As well as composing, Holst held several significant teaching posts, the most important and longest-lasting of which was at St Paul's Girls' School; the Musical Directorship of this brought him joy and delight; it also provided solace in the form of his sound-proof room in the glorious Music Wing, into which he was able to retreat and gain the peace and quiet he required for composition. Holst - who threw himself wholeheartedly into the life of the school - gratefully composed a number of works specifically for the school and its pupils, including all the works presented on this disc.

These works demonstrate perfectly how uncompromising Holst was in his pursuit of quality - the pieces on this disc are no less carefully textured and well-crafted than his works for professional ensembles and they highlight Holst's integrity as a composer, along with his love for and appreciation of St Paul's Girls' School.

As well as the much-loved St Paul's Suite and Brook Green Suite (the latter performed at the last concert that Holst ever attended), this disc features the World Premiere Recording of Gavotte - originally part of the Brook Green Suite; the Playground Song and the Seven Choruses from Alcestis, with its heart-felt and deeply-moving words by Euripides.

We are also delighted to enable music-lovers to hear The Vision of Dame Christian, a deeply-engaging Masque composed for the four-hundredth anniversary of St Paul's School to celebrate the Founder John Colet and his mother, with words by the then-High Mistress, Frances Gray; this important and beautiful work here receives its First Professional Recording. Holst stipulated that the Masque should not be taken out of the school, so we are even more pleased to have been able to honour Holst's wishes by recording it in the beautiful wooden-panelled Great Hall of St Paul's Girls' School, with current pupils at the school providing the choir.

The works are also performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Leigh O'Hara (Director of Music at St Paul's Girls' School at the time of recording) and also feature Old Paulina, EM Records Director and reciter Em Marshall-Luck as the narrator.

BBC Concert Orchestra
Leigh O’Hara, conductor
Paulina Voices
Em Marshall-Luck, direction

Leigh O’Hara
is the only person, apart from Holst and Vaughan Williams, to have run the prestigious music departments at James Allen’s Girls’ School and St Paul’s Girls’ School. Having completed a music degree at the University of York, where he won the prize for outstanding contribution, Leigh studied piano at Trinity College of Music with Simon Young, Philip Fowke and David Owen Norris. As well as winning first prize in the Weingarten Schumann Competition he was awarded the Gertrude Norman Prize and Cross Memorial Scholarship. Leigh’s career is now focussed on conducting and his role at St Paul's Girls’ School where he is Deputy Head, Director of Partnerships as well as Director of Music. Leigh has been resident at Dartington International Summer School for over 25 consecutive years and is musical director of Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra and Dulwich Symphony Orchestra as well as an examiner, presenter and moderator for the Associated Board. Leigh particularly enjoys tackling major symphonic works in a short but intensive rehearsal period with SLYO1 and the resulting vibrant and exciting performances.

Booklet for Fide et Literis