Gustav Holst is a composer who nobody seems to know, if anyone knows The Planets. This relative lack of fame is a mystery, because the quality of Holst's choral and orchestral music (including some brilliant works for band)is usually high. Perhaps partly because Holst comes aversion to public display. He explained after the success of The Planets far more introverted subjects, including the beautiful
… Hymn of Jesus in 1917. This is a typical job that youwhen you encounter wondering why it is not widely known (although the work seems at that time or to have succeeded). However, there is something wrong with the continuity of Holst's development as a composer, though technical challenges himmore stimulated than a consistent style. Grove Music Online has an intriguing statement of Holst's daughter Imogen in this regard: 'As soon as he had made his point, he stopped. (HJ)more
