Song Without Words
Gustav Holst, arr. Ben Tordoff
Composed:
1911 Arranged:
2021 Grouping:
sSAATTBb Duration:
01:55
In the early 20th century there was a surge of interest in folk songs from composers such as Percy Grainger, Ralph Vaughan-Williams, and Gustav Holst. The "Song Without Words" from Holst's second suite for military band is an arrangement of the Cornish folk-song "I'll Love my Love" which Holst also arranged for choir as part of his "Six Choral Folksongs". It tells the story of a maid driven mad when her lover was sent to sea by his parents, and his rescuing her from Bedlam (mental hospital) on his return.
The band version features just two verses and is typically performed much more slowly than it would be sung, finishing in a melancholy and reflective style rather than the happier ending of the original. Here we present an octet reduction of the band score, with the main solo initially on alto.
© 2021 Ben Tordoff
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