• Gustav Theodore Holst (born Gustavus Theodor von Holst, 21 September 1874 –

25 May 1934) was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral
suite The Planets
• Holst was born on 21 September 1874, at 4 Pittville Terrace (named today
Clarence Road), Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England to a family of Swedish
extraction (by way of Latvia and Russia). The house was opened as a museum
devoted to Holst's life and times in 1974
• Holst was taught to play piano and violin, and began composing when he was
about twelve. He also started trombone when his father thought this might
improve his son's asthma He was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School for
Boys.
• Holst was the musical director at James Allen's Girls' School for sixteen years In
1905, Holst was appointed Director of Music at St Paul's Girls' School in
Hammersmith, London. In 1907, Holst also became director of music at Morley
College. These were the most important of his teaching posts, and he retained
both until the end of his life.
• During the first two decades of the 20th century, musical society as a whole (and
Holst's friend Vaughan Williams in particular) became interested in old English
folksongs, madrigal singers, and Tudor composers.
• At the onset of World War I, Holst tried to enlist but was rejected because of his
bad eyes, bad lungs and bad digestion. In wartime England, Holst was persuaded
to drop the "von" from his name, as it aroused suspicion. His new music,
however, was readily received as "patriotic" and English music was demanded at
concert halls, partly due to a ban on all "Teutonic" music.
• Holst composed almost 200 works, including operas, ballets, choral hymns and
songs.
• Holst's grandfather , Gustavus von Holst (born 1799) of Riga, Latvia, moved to
England with his parents as a child; he became a composer of elegant harp music
and a notable harp teacher.
• Holst's father, Adolph von Holst, was organist and choirmaster at All Saints'
Church in Pittville.
• Holst's mother, Clara von Holst, was a singer who bore two sons, Gustav and
Emil Gottfried.