Gustav Holst's Piano - event reports

I was rather busy last month, so I've only just had time to write up a report of the events involving Gustav Holst's piano. As I had mentioned, this is the very piano in Holst's special soundproof room at St Paul's Girls' School, where he was teaching at the time, and on which he composed the famous Planets Suite between 1914 and 1916. The piano originally cost 225 guineas, and was delivered to the school in 1913; as well as being in Holst's room, it was periodically transported within the school to the Singing Room and Great Hall for concerts, and then back again.

It was on view in Lythe Village Hall near Whitby on 8th June all day, with a concert at 3pm given by international concert pianist You Chiung-Lin featuring a solo piano arrangement of Mars, Venus and Jupiter from the Planets Suite. The performance of Jupiter in particular was a real "show-stopper". There was a steady flow of people through the day and the hall was absolutely packed by an appreciative audience for the afternoon concert with over 200 people in attendance.

The Broadwood 7'6" barless grand piano used by Holst whilst composing the Planets Suite, seen at Lythe Village Hall

The audience gathers in preparation for the afternoon concert

The barless design has no cast iron bracing bars, a feature unique to Broadwood, meaning that the frame flexes significantly when strung and is made of cast steel instead of cast iron, which would not be strong enough.

There was also a display of children's artwork on the theme of "The Planets", seen in the photographs below:

The Holst piano also made an appearance in the Whitby Gazette and on the BBC (Look North and the Breakfast News) in which Alastair Laurence of Broadwood's explained its history. There was also a mercifully short cameo appearance on the programme by yours truly doing some work at the Broadwood workshops!

The piano then left to continue its journey southwards, making its way to the University of York's Jack Lyons Concert Hall on 14th May. I also attended this evening concert featuring all the movements of the Planets Suite - Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, which was given by concert pianists Jakob Fichert and Mark Hutchinson (four hands on one piano)and which proved to be an absolutely magical performance. The Broadwood barless grand has a very mellow tone compared to most modern concert grands and a wonderful sustain in the bass.

There was again a fantastic turnout of approximately 250 people for the concert, which was part of the York Festival of Ideas.

You can find out more about the performers here:

You-Chiung Lin

Jakob Fichert

Mark Hutchinson

Future events

21st September, 3pm at St Paul's School

The piano will now make its way to St Paul's Girls' School, Brook Green, London W6 7BS, where there will be a concert on Saturday 21st September, Holst's birthday. John and Fiona York will perform a piano duet version of The Planets, with Heidi Pegler (soprano) and the Paulina Voices choir from the school. There will be an introduction by Dr Alastair Laurence from Broadwood's.

Concert at 3pm, £12 admission, students 18 and under free admission. 

Booking is advisable: you can book your ticket here

28th September, 7pm at Finchcocks

The Planets will again be performed in a duet version by Jong Gyung-Park and Anthony Zerpa-Falcon on a "Model 5" Broadwood from 1920 (identical to Holst's), at Finchcock's, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1HH. 

Concert at 7pm, tickets £10. Booking essential, see www.finchcocks.com

13th October, 2pm and 7pm at the Holst Birthplace Museum, 4 Clarence Road, Cheltenham  GL52 2AY

"Inspirations from England" will feature music by Holst, Elgar, Sullivan, Stamford, Vaughan Williams and Britten, performed by Greg Tassell (tenor) and Gary Branch (piano).

Two perfomances at 2pm and 7pm, tickets £20 including wine and canapes, booking essential on 01242 524846 or curator@holstmuseum.org.uk