Gustav Holst

Inspired by the music of Arthur Sullivan, in 1892 Holst composed a two-act operetta, called Lansdown Castle, which was produced at the Cheltenham Corn Exchange the following year. Although the music was could not escape the influence of Sullivan, the performance was a great success with the critics and the audience. Adolph was sufficiently impressed to borrow money to send Gustav to the Royal College of Music under regular admission.



At the College, Holst studied composition with Charles Stanford. Although he often disagreed with Stanford's opinions, Holst was always grateful to him, especially for teaching him how to become his own critic.



A year before attending the Royal College of Music, Gustav heard Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung under Gustav Mahler at the Covent Garden. He was overwhelmed by the lush sonorities. Reinforced by the friendship of a fellow student at the College, Fritz Hart, Gustav became an ardent Wagner enthusiast. Once after hearing Tristan and Isolde in the gallery, he walked all night through the streets of London with his mind in a whirl.



Another overwhelming experience was hearing the Bach Mass in B Minor at the Three Choirs Festival in Worchester in 1893. He was so taken aback by the choruses that he felt as if he was floating about the crowds. It was one of the few memorable musical events in his young life thus far. The cramping neuritis in his right hand was perpetually defeating him as a keyboardist. Prolonged practice was impossible and he was forced to realize that he could not keep up his technique any longer.



Holst therefore decided to take up the trombone. It would allow him to play in orchestras and provide him with an income. Also, the experience would be useful to him as a composer. Perhaps, he also thought that playing the trombone would even help to strengthen his chest and lungs.



As a student, Gustav Holst was frugal. He never smoked nor drank. Since leaving home he had also become a strict vegetarian. But vegetarianism was not encouraged in his cheap lodgings in the 1890's. Since he was never given a completely nourishing meal, his eyes became very weak and his hand remained in constant pain. Yet despite all of the physical problems and his extremely shy and solitary nature, he was already showing an absorbing interest in other people. He hated conventionality and rejoiced in ideas he found fantastic or humorous. He enjoyed a good laugh.