Gustav Holst's Broadwood Barless Piano is coming to Yorkshire in June

There will be some forthcoming special events during the summer celebrating the work of the composer Gustav Holst (1874-1934), most famous for his remarkable and inventive orchestral work "The Planets" composed in 1914-16, and recognized as an enormous influence on later 20th Century composers.

Between 1905 and 1934 Holst was a teacher at St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, London, a fact commemorated in a composition of 1913, "St Paul's Suite". Whilst teaching there, he had a special soundproof room built in which he could compose, with a 7'6" Broadwood barless grand piano. This piano was later sold by the school, but was recently found to be in private ownership in Edinburgh. It will now be making its way back to St Paul's School in September, but making several special stops en route.

Open day on Saturday 8th June, 10am to 5pm

Holst's Barless Broadwood piano will be on display all day at Lythe Village Hall, Lythe near Whitby, YO21 3RT. This building is on the main road through the village, just opposite the community shop and bus stop. There are regular half-hourly buses during the day (service X4) on the Whitby to Loftus, Redcar and Middlesbrough service.

There will also be pictures on display from a children's art competition based on the theme of "The Planets", which has been organized with a local school. The competition will be judged by You Chiung-Lin, the performer for the afternoon concert (see below).

There will be an opportunity to look closely at Holst's piano; staff from the nearby Broadwood workshops will be in attendance all day, and refreshments will be available; entry is free until 3pm.

At 3pm, there will be a special performance of Holst's music by international concert pianist You-Chiung Lin, with a ticket price of £5 for this part of the schedule.

Concert in York on 14th June

Holst's piano will be played in a performance at the Lyons Concert Hall, York at 7.30pm on Friday 14th June. This will be a duet of the Planets suite (four hands on one piano) by concert pianists Jakob Fichert and Mark Hutchinson. The concert will be introduced by John Broadwood & Sons chairman, Alastair Laurence. Tickets £10, concessions £8, students £3. This event will form part of the York Festival of Ideas and appears on their website.

http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2019/events/holst-planets/

Further events will take place during the year - watch this space for details!