Imogen Holst

Imogen Claire Holst (* 12. April 1907 in Richmond upon Thames (Surrey); † 9. März 1984 in Aldeburgh, Suffolk) war eine englische Musikschriftstellerin, Komponistin und Dirigentin.

Leben

Holst − Tochter des Komponisten Gustav Holst und seiner Ehefrau Isobel Harrison − besuchte die St Paul's Girls School in Hammersmith und studierte am Royal College of Music in London. Während des Zweiten Weltkriegs arbeitete sie von 1941 bis 1944 als Organisatorin beim Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts und von 1943 bis 1951 als musikalische Leiterin beim Arts Centre in der Dartington Hall School.

1952 ging Holst als Mitarbeiterin von Benjamin Britten nach Aldeburgh und wurde 1956 künstlerische Leiterin des dortigen Festivals. 1953 gründete sie die Purcell Singers, deren Dirigentin sie bis 1967 war. Von ihren Schriften wurde vor allem die Biographie ihres Vaters bekannt. Weitere Bücher von ihr befassen sich mit mittelalterlicher Musik, Volks-, Renaissance- und Barockmusik. Außer zu ihrem Vater schrieb sie Biographien zu William Byrd, Henry Purcell, Johann Sebastian Bach und Benjamin Britten.

Als Komponistin hinterließ Imogen Holst ein umfangreiches Werk, das instrumentale, vokale und orchestrale Genres umfasst. Ebenso vielseitig arbeitete sie als Arrangeurin.

Veröffentlichungen

• Imogen Holst: Das ABC der Musik. Grundbegriffe, Harmonik, Formen, Instrumente. Mit einem Vorwort von Benjamin Britten Englischen Originalausgabe 1963, übersetzt von Meinhard Saremba, Reclam Sachbuch, 7. Auflage, ISBN 978-3-15-018681-7.

(Die folgende Liste ist der englischen Wikipedia entnommen)

• Gustav Holst: A biography. Oxford University Press, London 1938, OCLC 852118145.  (Neuauflage 1969).
• The Music of Gustav Holst. Oxford University Press, London 1951, OCLC 881989.  (revidierte Ausgaben 1968 und 1985, letztere mit Zusatz Holst's Music Reconsidered).
• The Book of the Dolmetsch Descant Recorder. Boosey & Hawkes, London 1957, OCLC 221221906. 
• The Story of Music („The Wonderful World“ Serie). Rathbone, London, OCLC 2182017.  (Coauthor Benjamin Britten).
• Heirs and Rebels: Letters Written to Each Other, and Occasional Writings on Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. Oxford University Press, London 1959, OCLC 337514.  (Coauthorin Ursula Vaughan Williams).
• Henry Purcell, 1659–1695: Essays on his Music. Oxford University Press, London 1959, OCLC 602569.  (Hrsg.).
• Henry Purcell: The Story of his Life and Work. Boosey & Hawkes, London 1961, OCLC 1200203. 
• Tune. Faber & Faber, London 1962, OCLC 843455729. .
• An ABC of Music: a Short Practical Guide to the Basic Essentials of Rudiments, Harmony, and Form. Oxford 1963, ISBN 0-19-317103-1. 
• Your Book of Music. Faber & Faber, London 1964, OCLC 170598. 
• Bach („Great Composers“ Serie). Faber & Faber, London 1965, OCLC 748710834. 
• Britten („Great Composers“ Serie). Faber & Faber, London 1966, OCLC 243904447. 
• Byrd („Great Composers“ Serie). Faber & Faber, London 1972, ISBN 0-571-09813-4. 
• Conducting a Choir: a Guide for Amateurs. Oxford University Press, London 1973, ISBN 0-19-313407-1. 
• Holst („Great Composers“ Serie). Faber & Faber, London 1974, ISBN 0-571-09967-X.  (Neuauflage 1981)
• A Thematic Catalogue of Gustav Holst's Music. Faber Music, in conjunction with G & I Holst Ltd, London 1974, ISBN 0-571-10004-X. 

Imogen Holst schrieb zwischen 1935 und 1984 auch zahlreiche Artikel, Pamphlete, Aufsätze, Einführungen und Programmeinführungen.

Werkliste

(S= Sopran; A= Alt; T= Tnor; B= Bass)

1. Original Kompositionen

Genre	Jahr	Titel	Forces (instrumental und vocal)	Bemerkungen
Kammermusik	1918	Sonata in D minor	Violine, Viola, Cello and Klavier	Opus 1 (nur die ersten vier Werke sind nummeriert)
Unaccompanied tune	1918	Four English Christmas Carols		Opus 2
Instrumental	1918	Duet	Viola und Klavier	Opus 3
Instrumental	1920	The Masque of the Tempest	Flöte, Klarinette, Triangel und Streicher	Opus 4
Choral	1921	Arrangement: „Resonet in Laudibus“	Stimmen unisono und kleines Orchester
Choral	1925	An Essex Rhapsody	gemischter Chor und Orchester
Vocal	1925	Three songs (words: Walter de la Mare)	gemischte Stimmen, zwei Violinen und Cello
Vocal	1926	Two Four-part Rounds	Unbegleitete Stimmen
Vocal	1926	„Weathers“ (song) (Text: Thomas Hardy)	Stimme solo und Klavier
Instrumental	1926	Theme and variations	Klavier
Choral	1927	Mass in A minor	Chor SSATB
Instrumental	1927	Suite in F: „Allegro assai“	Streicher
Orchestral	1927	Suite: „Moderato“	Kleines Orchester
kammermusik	1928	Quintet	Oboe und Streicher
Instrumental	1928	Sonata in G	Violine und Klavier
Kammermusik	1928	Phantasy	Streichquartett
Kammermusik	1928	Suite	Flöte, Oboe, Klarinette, Fagott
Orchestral	1929	Overture: Persephone	Orchester
Blechbläser Band	1929	Suite: The Unfortunate Traveller	Blaskapelle
Instrumental	1930	Suite: The Unfortunate Traveller	Streicher	Arrangement einer Suite für Blaskapelle (1929)
Choral	1930	„What Man is He“	Chorus SATB und Orchestra	Text aus Wisdom IX: 13–17
Ballet	1930	Meddling in Magic	Orchester
Instrumental	1930	Suite	Viola allein
kammermusik	1930	Sonata	Violine und Cello
Orchestral	1932	Morris Suite	Kleines Orchester
Instrumental	1934	Five Short Airs on a Ground	Flöten
Instrumental	1934	Five Short Pieces	Klavier
Instrumental	1934	Six Pictures from Finland	Solo Klavier
Choral	1934	Wedding Hymn: „Father in Thine Almighty Hand“ (Worte: Eleanor Spensley)	Stimmen SATB
Orchestral	1934	Incidental music: The Song of Solomon	Orchester	Music for a Hollywood pageant
Concertante	1935	Concerto for violin and string orchestra	Solo-Violine und Streicher	Basiert auf traditionellen irischen Melodien
Instrumental	1935	Four Easy Pieces	Viola und Klavier
Orchestral	1935	On Westhall Hill	Kleines Orchester
Choral	1935	Carol: „My Bairn, Sleep Softly Now“ (Anon.)	Frauenstimmen (SSSAA)a capella oder Sopran und Flöten
Instrumental	1936	Canons	Gemischte Flöten
Vocal	1936	„Fly Away Over the Sea“ (Worte: Christina Rossetti)	Zwei Soprane und Klavier
Vocal	1936	Canon: „Great Art Thou, O Lord“	Fünf gleiche Stimmen a capella
Vocal	1936	„Lady Daffadowndilly“ (words: Christina Rossetti)	gemischte Stimmen und Klavier
Choral	1936	„Now Will I Weave White Violets“ (Worte: Meleager of Gadara)	Frauenstimmen (SSA)
Choral	1937	Incidental music: Nicodemus	Chor und Orchester
Instrumental	1937	12 Songs for Children (piano accompaniments)	Klavier
Vocal	1937	„Little Thinkest Thou, Poore Flower“ (words: John Donne)	Stimme und Klavier
Instrumental	1939	„Prelude and Dance“	Klavier
Orchestral	1939	Eothen Suite	Kleines Orchester
Choral	1940	„The Cherry Tree Carol“	SATB a capella
Instrumental	1940	Six Shakespeare songs	Blockflöten-Trio
Choral	1940	„A Hymne to Christ“ (words: John Donne)	Chor SATB a capella
Chamber	1941	Offley Suite	Blockflöten-Trio
Instrumental	1941	Deddington Suite	Blockflöten-Trio
Kammermusik	1942	Serenade	Flöte, Viola und Fagott
Instrumental	1943	Suite	Streichorchester
Choral	1943	Three Psalms	Chor SSAATB und Streicher
Instrumental	1943	Theme and variations	Solo Violine
Concertante	1944	Oboe concerto	Oboe und Orchester
Kammermusik	1944	First String Trio	Violine, Viola, Cello
Choral	1944	Five songs (words: Anon., Robert Herrick, John Donne)	Stimmen SSSAA
Vocal	1944	Four Songs (words: Tottel's Miscellany)	Sopran und Klavier
Choral	1945	Hierusalem (words: Tottel's Miscellany)	Achtstimiger Frauenchor
Oper	1945	Young Beichan (libretto: Beryl de Zoete)	Solisten, Chor und Orchester	Marionettenoper in sieben Szenen
Instrumental	1945	Offley Suite	Streicher	Arrangement fur Klavieranfänger und Anfänger-Streicherklasse
Instrumental	1946	Duet for treble recorders	Duett für gemischte Blockflöten
Instrumental	1946	Six Canons	Violinen	Übungen für Violine
Choral	1946	Anthem: „How Manifold are thy Works“	Chor, unspezifiziert
Choral	1946	Four Canons for Winsome	Female voices	Für Winsome Bartlett, Kollege von IH in Dartington
Kammermusik	1946	String Quartet No. 1	Streichquartett Nr.1
Choral	1947	Birthday Canon for Winsome: „Open me the gates of righteousness“	Stimmen SATB
Choral	1947	Birthday Part-Song for Winsome: „The lopped tree in time may grow again“	Stimmen SSAA
Vocal	1948	Round: „I stand as still as any stone“	Vier Stimmen (unspezifiziert)
Chamber	1949	String quartet No. 2	Streichquartett Nr. 2
Vocal	1950	Incidental music, Prometheus (words: Aeschylus)	Stimmen (unspezifiziert) und Viola
Choral	1950	Six part-songs: Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow	Stimmen SSA und Harfe (oder Klavier)
Opera	1951	Benedick and Beatrice	Solisten, Cchor und Orchester	Oper in einem Akt, basierend auf Figuren (Charaktere) von Shakespeare
Choral	1955	Motet: „Lavabo inter innocentes“	Stimmen SSSAA
Instrumental	1962	The Fall of the Leaf: three short studies on a 16th-century tune	Cello allein
Choral	1962	„The Twelve Kindly Months“ (Worte: Thomas Tusser)	Stimmen SSA
Instrumental	1962	Variations on „Loth to Depart“	Streichquartett und zwei Streichorchester
Instrumental	1962	String Trio No. 2	Violine, Viola and Cello
Choral	1964	„As Laurel Leaves That Cease Not to Be Green“ (from Tottel's Miscellany)	Stimmen SSA
Choral	1964	„That Lord that Lay in Asse Stall“	Stimmen SATB
Choral	1965	Carol: „Make Ye Merry For Him That Is To Come“	Stimmen SSATB
Choral	1965	„Not Unto Us O Lord“	Zwei gemischte und hohe Chöre (stimmt Übersetzung?), Orgel, optional Röhren-Glocken
Choral	1965	Cantata: The Sun's Journey	Sopran- und Altchöre, kleines Orchester (oder Klavier)
Orchestral	1965	Triannon Suite	Orchester
Instrumental	1966	Fanfare for the Grenadier Guards	Drei Trompeten, Horn, zwei Posaunen
Instrumental	1966	Fanfare for Thaxted	Zwei Trompeten, Flöte, Glocken
Instrumental	1967	Leiston Suite	Bläserquartett
Instrumental	1968	Duo	Viola und Klavier
Choral	1968	„Out of Your Sleep arise and Wake“	Chor SSATTB a capella
Instrumental	1969	Badingham Chime	Handglocken
Blechbläser Band	1969	Theme and seven variations: The Glory of the West	Blechbläser Band
Orchestral	1969	Woodbridge Suite	Orchester
Instrumental	1970	Fantasia on Hampshire Folk Tunes	Streichorchester
Instrumental	1972	Iken Fanfare	Schul-Blaskapelle
Choral	1972	„Hallo My Fancy, Whither Wilt Thou Go“ (words: William Cleland)	SSTBB und Countertenor
Vocal	1974	„Farewell to Rod“	Solo Stimme und Continuo
Concertante	1976	Joyce's Divertimento	Viola und Orchester
Orchestral	1977	Deben Calendar	Orchester
Instrumental	1980	February Welcome	Handglocken
Vocal	1980	A Greeting	Zwei Soprane, Mezzo-Sopran und Klavier
Vocal	1982	„Song for a Well-Loved Librarian“	Sopran, Mezzo-Sopran, Tenor und Bariton	Gewidmed Fred Ferry, librarian to the Britten-Pears Library baritone
Chamber	1982	String Quintet	Streichquintett:zwei Violinen, Viola, zwei Celli
Vocal	1984	Homage to William Morris	Bass Stimme und Streichbass
Instrumental	1984	Recorder sextet	Sopranino, zwei Diskant-, zwei gemischte- und Tenorblockflöte
Instrumental	1984	Concerto for recorder and string orchestra
Instrumental	1984	Duett	Violine und Cello

2. Arrangements

Genre	Jahr	Titel	Forces (instrumental und vocal)	Bemerkungen
Instrumental	1932	First Book of Tunes for the Pipes	Pipes	Collected and arranged
Instrumental	1933	Selected 18th Century Dances	Piano	Collected and arranged
Instrumental	1933	Second Book of Tunes for the Pipes	Pipes	Collected and arranged
Instrumental	1933	Two Scottish Airs	Cello and piano
Vocal	1934	Four Oxfordshire Folk Songs	Two sopranos and piano
Vocal	1934	Four Somerset Folk Songs	Two sopranos and alto
Orchestral	1934	Love in a Mist or The Blue-Haired Stranger	Orchestra	Arranged from music by Scarlatti
Choral	1934	Folk song: „Nowell and Nowell“	Mixed voices
Vocal	1934	Six Scottish Folk Songs	Voice, pipes piano
Orchestral	1934	Traditional Country Dances	Orchestra	Arranged for the Cecil Sharp House Orchestra and others
Instrumental	1935	Four Folk Tunes from Hampshire	Unison violins and piano
Orchestral	1935	„Intermezzo“ from Gustav Holst's First Suite in E flat	Orchestra	Orchestral arrangement
Choral	1935	Folk song: „The Virgin Unspotted“	Unaccompanied female voices (SSA)
Instrumental	1936	Twelve Old English Dance Airs	Pipes	Arrangements, from Playford's English Dancing Master
Choral	1936	„Wassail Song“	Unaccompanied men's chorus	Arranged from Gustav Holst's setting for mixed voices
Instrumental	1937	Six Old English Dances	Piano	Arrangements, from Playford's English Dancing Master
Choral	1937	Folk song: „A Sweet Country Life“	Unaccompanied SATB voices
Choral	1937	Folk song from Hampshire: „The Cobbler“	Unaccompanied SATB voices
Choral	1937	„A Cornish Wassail Song“	Unaccompanied SATB voices
Brass band	1937	Coronation Country Dances	Brass band	Co-arrangement with Gordon Jacob
Instrumental	1937	The Rival Sisters	Strings, ad lib woodwind and percussion	Arrangements of Purcell's suite for small orchestra
Vocal	1938	Pelham Humphrey: Three Songs (Pelham Humphrey)	Voice and piano
Vocal	1938	Ten Appalachian Folk Songs	Voice and piano
Choral	1940	Six Traditional Carols (first set)	SSA voices	Completed between 1940 and 1946
Vocal	1940	Pastoral scene: Nymphs and Shepherds	SSA voices, strings, optional recorders	Based on music by Purcell
Choral	1940	Dorset folk carol: „Come All You Worthy People“	SSA voices
Instrumental	1940	Pelham Humphrey: Five airs	Recorder trio
Vocal	1941	Pelham Humphrey: Song „Nature's Homily“	Baritone and piano
Instrumental	1942	Handel's „As When the Dove“	Continuo
Instrumental	1942	A Bach Book for the Treble Recorder	Treble recorder	Selected and edited by IH
Vocal	1942	Three Carols from Other Lands	Unspecified
Choral	1943	„Of a Rosemary Branch Sent“	SATB voices with strings
Choral	1943	Shropshire folk carol: „All Under the Leaves“	SSA voices	Also known as „The Seven Virgins“
Choral	1943	Cornish folk-carol: „Cherry, Holly and Ivy“	SATB voices
Choral	1945	Bach's Cantata No. 79: „God the Lord is Son and Shield“	SSA voices
Instrumental	1945	Purcell's The Tempest	Piano, flute, descant recorder, oboe, clarinet, strings
Orchestral	1945	Three Somerset Folk Songs	Small orchestra
Instrumental	1947	British Folk Songs	Solo piano
Choral	1948	Six Traditional Carols (Second set)	SSA voices
Choral	1949	Gustav Holst: „Lullay my Liking“	SSA voices with solo soprano
Choral	1949	Six Christmas Carols (Third set)	SSA and SSAA voices
Instrumental	1950	Purcell: Four songs	Recorder ensemble
Choral	1950	„Greensleeves“	SSA voices
Instrumental	1950	Purcell: Seventeen songs	Piano, two violins, cello ad lib
Choral	1950	Folk song: „I Must Live All Alone“	SSA voices
Instrumental	1951	Ten Indian Folk Tunes from the Punjab	Descant recorder	Transcribed by IH and Prabhakar Chinchore
Choral	1952	Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato	Equal voices with ad lib soprano and alto soli
Instrumental	1952	„Sellenger's Round“	Strings	Arrangement of Byrd setting
Vocal	1953	Daniel Purcell: „By What I've Seen I am Undone“	Voice and piano
Vocal	1953	Henry Carey: Four Songs	Voice and piano
Orchestral	1954	Britten: „March from the Courtly Dances sequence in Gloriana“	Orchestra	Orchestral arrangement
Vocal	1954	Britten: Second Lute Song of Earl of Essex, from Gloriana	Voice and piano
Choral	1955	Britten: Choral Dances from Gloriana	Tenor solo and SATB chorus
Instrumental	1955	Bach: A Christmas Canon	Recorder quartet
Vocal	1955	Handel: „For Ever Blessed Be Thy Holy Name“	Voice and piano
Choral	1955	Folk song: „O Can Ye Sew Cushions“	SSA voices and piano	From Britten's Folk Song arrangements Vol. 1
Choral	1955	Six Scottish Songs	SSA voices unaccompanied
Choral	1955	Traditional Songs of Scotland	SSA voices unaccompanied
Vocal	1955	Arne: „Under the Greenwood Tree“	Voice and piano
Vocal	1956	Sea shanty: „Sally Brown“	Voices and recorders
Opera	1956	Venus and Adonis	Unspecified	From the original by John Blow: prepared for the 1956 Aldeburgh Festival
Choral	1957	„Singing for Pleasure“	Female voices	Song collection
Choral	1958	Six Traditional Carols (Fourth Set)	Unaccompanied SSA and SSSA voices
Choral	1959	„A Jubilee Book of English Folk Songs“	Unison voices and piano	Song collection
Choral	1959	Ten songs from John Wilson's Cheerfull Ayres and Ballads (1659)	SSA voices
Instrumental	1960	Fifty Bach tunes	Recorder	Arranged from originals
Instrumental	1960	Ten Bach tunes	Recorder	Arranged from originals
Choral	1960	A Yacre of Land: 16 folksongs from collection of Ralph Vaughan Williams	Unison voices and piano, or unaccompanied voices	Co-arranged by IH and Ursula Vaughan Williams
Vocal	1961	Nineteen Songs from Folk Songs of Europe, ed. Maud Karpeles	Voice and piano accompaniment
Choral	1961	Tunes from Kentucky	Equal voices and junior orchestra
Choral	1962	Heinrich Schütz: The Passion According to St John	Soloists and unaccompanied chorus	Co-edited and arranged by IH and Peter Pears
Choral	1964	Scottish Traditional Song: „A Wee Bird Cam' to Our Ha'Door“	SATB voices
Choral	1965	The Passion According to St Luke	Unaccompanied voices	Edited and arranged for performance from 15thC manuscripts
Choral	1965	Heinrich Schütz: The Passion According to St Matthew	Soloists and unaccompanied chorus	Co-edited and translated by IH and Peter Pears
Vocal	1966	Thomas Tudway: „I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes“	Soprano and continuo
Choral	1966	George Kirbye: „O Jesu, Look“	SSATB voices
Opera	1967	Purcell: The Faerie Queen (shortened version)	Soloists, chorus and orchestra	Edited and prepared for concert performance by IH, Peter Pears and Benjamin Britten
Choral	1967	Bach: The Passion According to St John	Soloists, chorus and orchestra	Edited by Benjamin Britten and IH; English translation by Peter Pears
Orchestral	1967	Lully: Suite from Persée	Orchestra	Edited from original by IH and Emanuel Hurwitz
Vocal	1967	Three Carol Arrangements	Three equal unaccompanied voices
Vocal	1967	Twenty Traditional British Folk Songs	unaccompanied voices in part song
Choral	1968	Purcell: Wedding anthem, „How Blest Are They“	Mixed voices, soprano and bass soli	Arranged by IH and Philip Ledger
Choral	1969	Purcell: „Remember Not, O Lord“	Male chorus
Instrumental	1970	William Byrd: „Browning“	Violin, two violas, two cellos
Choral	1970	English folk song: „Gypsy Davy“	Unaccompanied chorus	Arranged as a ballad
Vocal	1978	Pelham Humphrey and John Blow: „A Dialogue Between Two Penitents“	Two tenors and continuo
Instrumental	1981	Seventeenth-century traditional English dance: „About Ship“	Piano duet
Instrumental	1983	Seven tunes by Gustav Holst	piano	Arrangement for elementary piano

3. Aufnahmen

• CD: Messe a-Moll etc, Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, The Dmitri Ensemble, Graham Ross, 2013, harmonia mundi HMH 907576.
• CD: Streichquartett Nr. 1, zusammen mit Quartetten von B. Britten u.a., 1993.
• »Phantasy«-Quartett, Aufführung BBC Proms 19. August 2013.

Weblinks

• Werke von und über Imogen Holst im Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek