Holst for kids: his life, his music, and what to play first

Gustav Holst was an English composer who lived from 1874 to 1934. He wrote The Planets, a set of seven pieces for a large orchestra, one for each of seven planets. For most of his life he was a school music teacher who composed on weekends and holidays. The best first piece for a child is “Jupiter,” which has a bouncing start and a grand tune in the middle.

Quick facts

• Born: 1874, in Cheltenham, England
• Died: 1934, in London, England
• Era: Modern
• Played: trombone and piano
• Known for: The Planets, the St. Paul’s Suite, and the tune of the carol “In the Bleak Midwinter”

The life in short

Holst came from a family of musicians. His father taught piano and wanted Gustav to be a pianist. A nerve problem in his right arm made long hours at the keyboard painful, so he took up the trombone.

He studied at the Royal College of Music in London. There he met Ralph Vaughan Williams, another young composer. The two stayed friends for life and showed each other every new piece.

After college, Holst earned his living as a trombone player in theater orchestras. Then he turned to teaching. In 1905, he became the music teacher at St. Paul’s Girls’ School in London, and he kept the job until he died.

The school built him a soundproof room. He wrote there when the building was empty. He wrote the St. Paul’s Suite for the school’s string orchestra.

He worked on The Planets from 1914 to 1917. It was first played in 1918, and it made him famous. Holst did not enjoy the attention. He was shy, he disliked giving interviews, and he went on teaching.

He loved long walks in the countryside.

What the music sounds like

Holst’s music has strong rhythm. He liked uneven beats, such as five or seven in a bar, which keep a listener a little off balance.

He also loved English folk songs. Their plain, sturdy tunes show up all through his music.

Four pieces to play first

“Jupiter,” from The Planets. The strings rush, and the horns jump in with a bold, happy tune. Partway through, the music slows for a broad, noble tune that was later turned into a hymn.

“Mars,” from The Planets. A hard rhythm with five beats in a bar drives the whole piece. It is loud and fierce. The Planets listening guide covers all seven movements.

St. Paul’s Suite, first movement. A quick jig for strings that he wrote for his students. It is about three minutes long.

“In the Bleak Midwinter.” Holst wrote the tune for this Christmas carol in 1906. Choirs sing it every December. The tune is slow and plain, and it is easy to sing.

Things to do together

Count to five. In “Mars,” count “one, two, three, four, five” along with the rhythm. Then try to march to it. Marching to five is tricky, and Holst meant it to be.

Jig. Play the St. Paul’s Suite and skip around the room. A jig is a fast, skipping dance.

Planet match. Play one minute from any planet. Ask your child which planet it could be. War, peace, messenger, joy, old age, magic, and mystery are the seven choices.

Teacher and composer. Holst wrote for his own students. Ask your child what kind of piece they would want a teacher to write for their class.

Print and play

Print the Holst fact sheet. It has the story, three pieces, and room to write and draw. Find him on the composer timeline.

For more December music, see Christmas classical music for kids. Next, meet another English composer who wrote for young people in Britten for kids. For all 24 composers by era, see classical composers for kids.