—Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
The Second Suite in F was written in 1911 and is considered one of the
cornerstones of the concert band literature. Composed for “Military
Band” (which is the English designation for full band instrumentation as
opposed to a British Brass Band), the four-movement suite presents a
variety of English folk songs and other dance tunes. The first movement
begins with a “Morris Dance” with roots from the Renaissance, followed
by the folk song “Swansea Town,” and then “Claudy Banks”. The second
movement is a slow, lyrical love song “I’ll Love my Love.” The
third movement, “The Song of the Blacksmith,” is a clever rhythmic display
that includes the blacksmith’s punctuating anvil, and the fourth
movement is a country dance and folk song titled “The Dargason.” (Source:
JRO)
