{"history":[],"article":{"id":"6fe7bc7a-1b38-4d14-a2d5-ed9448e96d15","title":"St Paul's Suite","slug":"st-paul-s-suite","content":":::summary\n:::\n\n# \n**St Paul's Suite** in [C major](https://bliptext.com/articles/c-major) ([Op.](https://bliptext.com/articles/opus-number) 29, No. 2), originally titled simply **Suite in C**, is a popular work for [string orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/string-orchestra) by the English composer [Gustav Holst](https://bliptext.com/articles/gustav-holst).\nFinished in 1913, but not published until 1922 due to revisions, it takes its name from [St Paul's Girls' School](https://bliptext.com/articles/st-paul-s-girls-school) in [Hammersmith](https://bliptext.com/articles/hammersmith), London.\nHolst served as the school's \"music master\" from 1905 to 1934 and was grateful to the school for building a soundproof studio for him.\nThe suite is one of many pieces he wrote for the school's students.\n\n# Form\nThe suite consists of four [movements](https://bliptext.com/articles/movement-music):\n

Jig: [Vivace](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo)
Ostinato: [Presto](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo)
Intermezzo: [Andante](https://bliptext.com/articles/andante-tempo) con moto
Finale (The Dargason): [Allegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo)

\nA typical performance lasts 13 minutes.\n\n# Analysis\n\n## I. Jig\nThe jig is introduced in alternating and time.\nA contrasting theme is then introduced, which is later blended with the original jig.\n\n## II. Ostinato\nThe movement opens with an [ostinato](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostinato) played by the second violins.\nThe principal theme is then introduced by the solo violin, while the second violins keep alternating the [ostinato](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostinato).\n\n## III. Intermezzo\nThe movement was originally labeled \"Dance\" in the manuscript.\nThe principal theme is introduced by the solo violin to a setting of [pizzicato](https://bliptext.com/articles/pizzicato) chords.\nThe solo viola then joins the violin in a duet.\nFinally, the melody is played in a quartet of soloists.\n\n## IV. Finale (The Dargason)\nThe Finale was arranged from the \"Fantasia on the Dargason\" from Holst's [Second Suite in F for Military Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-suite-in-f-for-military-band).\nThe titular folk song \"Dargason\" is heard in the soft introduction.\n\"Dargason\" is then followed by \"[Greensleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/greensleeves)\" played in the cellos.\nThe two folk songs are then played together until the end of the movement.\n\n# Recordings\n[Roy Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/roy-goodman) and the New Queen's Hall Orchestra recorded the suite in 1997.","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-26T07:06:44.858Z","updated_at":"2025-01-26T07:06:44.858Z","search_vector":"'paul':2 'st':1 'suit':4","search_content":" \n \n\n# \n**St Paul's Suite** in [C major](https://bliptext.com/articles/c-major) ([Op.](https://bliptext.com/articles/opus-number) 29, No. 2), originally titled simply **Suite in C**, is a popular work for [string orchestra](https://bliptext.com/articles/string-orchestra) by the English composer [Gustav Holst](https://bliptext.com/articles/gustav-holst).\nFinished in 1913, but not published until 1922 due to revisions, it takes its name from [St Paul's Girls' School](https://bliptext.com/articles/st-paul-s-girls-school) in [Hammersmith](https://bliptext.com/articles/hammersmith), London.\nHolst served as the school's \"music master\" from 1905 to 1934 and was grateful to the school for building a soundproof studio for him.\nThe suite is one of many pieces he wrote for the school's students.\n\n# Form\nThe suite consists of four [movements](https://bliptext.com/articles/movement-music):\n \n Jig: [Vivace](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo) \n Ostinato: [Presto](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo) \n Intermezzo: [Andante](https://bliptext.com/articles/andante-tempo) con moto \n Finale (The Dargason): [Allegro](https://bliptext.com/articles/tempo) \n \nA typical performance lasts 13 minutes.\n\n# Analysis\n\n## I. Jig\nThe jig is introduced in alternating and time.\nA contrasting theme is then introduced, which is later blended with the original jig.\n\n## II. Ostinato\nThe movement opens with an [ostinato](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostinato) played by the second violins.\nThe principal theme is then introduced by the solo violin, while the second violins keep alternating the [ostinato](https://bliptext.com/articles/ostinato).\n\n## III. Intermezzo\nThe movement was originally labeled \"Dance\" in the manuscript.\nThe principal theme is introduced by the solo violin to a setting of [pizzicato](https://bliptext.com/articles/pizzicato) chords.\nThe solo viola then joins the violin in a duet.\nFinally, the melody is played in a quartet of soloists.\n\n## IV. Finale (The Dargason)\nThe Finale was arranged from the \"Fantasia on the Dargason\" from Holst's [Second Suite in F for Military Band](https://bliptext.com/articles/second-suite-in-f-for-military-band).\nThe titular folk song \"Dargason\" is heard in the soft introduction.\n\"Dargason\" is then followed by \"[Greensleeves](https://bliptext.com/articles/greensleeves)\" played in the cellos.\nThe two folk songs are then played together until the end of the movement.\n\n# Recordings\n[Roy Goodman](https://bliptext.com/articles/roy-goodman) and the New Queen's Hall Orchestra recorded the suite in 1997.","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

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