Composer

Gustav Holst

1874–1934 · Cheltenham, Gloucestershire · England

An operetta he wrote at eighteen persuaded his father to borrow the money for the Royal College of Music, where he met Ralph Vaughan Williams, a friend for life. Neuritis in his right hand ended his organ playing, so he took up the trombone and composing. The success of The Planets let him give up teaching. The tune THAXTED is drawn from that suite.

Tune

1

Lived

1874–1934

Hymnal

1