Gustav Holst

The Song Of The Blacksmith SATB

In his use of authentic Englsh folksongs, Gnostic texts and Vedic hymns, one can discern Holst's search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900's. In 1916 he published Six Choral Folk Songs, of which Hampshire folk tune The Song of the Blacksmith is the fourth. Holst uses the power of his mixed Voice Chorale to set the song among onomatopaeic syllables to evoke the smithy. The song is one verse long which Holst repeats not quite completely three times, like the endlessly spinning thoughts of a rejected lover. There are many time signature changes between 4/4 and ¾. Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19thand early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.