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- Holst, Gustav
- Woodhouse, Charles
Duration: 11 minutes
Description: Gustav Holst (1874-1934) composed the JAPANESE SUITE, Op. 33/ H. 126 in 1915 for dancer Michio Ito, who had requested it. Ito supplied most of the principal themes, which are traditional Japanese melodies, by whistling them to Holst. The only exception to this is the 2nd movement, “Dance of the Marionette,” which Holst wrote himself. Despite the use of these Japanese themes, the work still uses the harmonies and textures that the British composer had used in his other works while also incorporating some other experimental influences with which he was familiar. It is unknown if Ito’s desired performance ever occurred, though an unconfirmed performance may have taken place in London sometime in 1916 at the Coliseum Theatre. But the first known performance occurred on September 1, 1919, at Queen’s Hall in London by the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra, Holst conducting, which happened to be the first of Holst’s works to be performed at a Promenade Concert. Movements: Prelude. Song of the Fisherman; I. Ceremonial Dance; II. Dance of the Marionette; Interlude – Song of the Fisherman; III. Dance under the Cherry Tree; IV. Finale – Dance of the Wolves. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).1+EH.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(2-3): Hp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Transposed parts for Clarinets, Horns, and Trumpets included in the set. Reprint of the edition by Charles Woodhouse.