Japanese Suite

{{Expand language|topic=|langcode=ja|otherarticle=日本組曲_(ホルスト)|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = Japanese Suite

| subtitle =

| image = St Paul's Girls' School, London 03.jpg

| image_upright =

| alt =

| caption = At the time of composing the Japanese Suite, Holst was teaching music at St Paul's Girls' School. He was Director of Music from 1905 to 1934.

| composer = Gustav Holst

| key =

| opus = 33

| dedication = To the Amanuensis (Vally Lasker)

| composed = 1915

| performed = 1 September 1919: London

| movements = Six

| scoring =

}}

Japanese Suite Op. 33 is a short orchestral work by the English composer Gustav Holst, composed in 1915.{{Cite book |last=Rayborn |first=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEH8CwAAQBAJ&dq=gustav+holst+japanese+suite+whistled&pg=PA96 |title=A New English Music: Composers and Folk Traditions in England's Musical Renaissance from the Late 19th to the Mid-20th Century |date=2016-04-27 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-2494-5 |language=en}} It was the first of Holst's works to be performed at a Queen's Hall Promenade Concert, on the 1st of September 1919, with the composer conducting the New Queen's Hall Orchestra. After this there were a small number of performances in the British provinces.{{Cite web |title=Gustav Holst - Japanese Suite op. 33, (1915) |url=https://repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de/wp-content/uploads/vorworte_prefaces/1101.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=repertoire-explorer.musikmph.de}}

Origin of the work

The suite resulted from Holst's collaboration with the dancer Michio Itō, who intended to use it as an accompaniment for one of his London performances. On the title page of the score, kept in the British Library, Holst wrote "I composed this piece for the Japanese dancer Michio Ito, who provided the themes for the parts other than the marionette dance."{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}}

In his paper, The Dancer Itō Michio and Japonisme: A Driving Force for the Formation of a New Genre, Midori Takeishi says that Holst attended one of Itō's short performances at the London Coliseum in the period from 10 May to 22 May 1915. In one of Holst's notebooks from this period, Ito's residential address has been written in the dancer's handwriting. Takeishi says that for these performances, the dancer had arranged a small-scale musical accompaniment, possibly using Japanese instruments or a piano.{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}}

Takeishi also observes that the young dancer was very short of money during his time in London, and would not have been able to pay Holst a fee for the work. Takeishi also notes that there is no evidence to suggest that Itō ever used the work in a performance. By September 1916, Itō had moved to New York.{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}}

Japanese folk tunes

Most of the main melodies are based on traditional Japanese folk tunes. Holst sat in Itō's dressing room and took notes, while the dancer whistled the tunes to him.{{Cite book |last=Heffer |first=Simon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ny2ADwAAQBAJ&dq=gustav+holst+japanese+suite+whistled&pg=PR28 |title=Staring at God: Britain in the Great War |date=2019-09-19 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4735-5596-9 |language=en}}

The work is divided into four dance pieces, and includes a prelude, interlude and finale: Prelude; Song of the Fisherman; I – Ceremonial Dance; II – Dance of the Marionette; Interlude; Song of the Fisherman; III – Dance under the Cherry Tree; IV – Finale: Dance of the Wolf.{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Jon C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NbIHAQAAMAAJ&q=michio+ito+holst |title=A Comprehensive Biography of Composer Gustav Holst, with Correspondence and Diary Excerpts: Including His American Years |date=2001 |publisher=E. Mellen Press |isbn=978-0-7734-7522-9 |language=en}} Itō supplied all the themes except for the third movement.{{Cite book |last=Short |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vJ5HAAAAMAAJ&q=gustav+holst+michio+ito |title=Gustav Holst, 1874-1934: A Centenary Documentation |date=1974 |publisher=White Lion Publishers |isbn=978-0-7285-0000-6 |language=en}}

Japanese themes include Edo Lullaby which is referenced in Dance Under the Cherry Tree.{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}} In Holst's autograph sketch, Dance of the Wolf is entitled Dance of the Fox.{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}} One of Itō's dance pieces at the Coliseum was entitled Moonlight Foxes.{{Cite journal |last1=武石 |first1=みどり |last2=タケイシ |first2=ミドリ |date=2000-12-20 |title=伊藤道郎の日本的舞踊 |url=https://tokyo-ondai.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/796 |journal=研究紀要 |language=ja |volume=24 |pages=35–60}}

File:Sheet music of Edo lullaby Japan.png

In his book Britten and the Far East, Mervyn Cooke describes it as an attempt by Holst to 'integrate Japanese modality' with the composer's own European harmonic approach. Cooke observes that Holst was working on the suite concurrently with 'Mercury' from his suite The Planets op.32.{{Cite book |last=Cooke |first=Mervyn |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-V1CNUNvl0C&dq=gustav+holst+japanese+suite&pg=PA14 |title=Britten and the Far East: Asian Influences in the Music of Benjamin Britten |date=1998 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-85115-830-3 |language=en}} Writing in The Guardian, Andrew Clements suggests that, like The Planets, the work displays some modernist influences.{{Cite news |last=Clements |first=Andrew |date=2012-07-04 |title=Holst: Whitman Overture; Cotswolds Symphony; Indra; Japanese Suite, etc – review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jul/04/holst-ulster-orchestra-falletta-review |access-date=2025-06-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

An early available recording from 1971 was conducted by Adrian Boult, who had maintained a lifelong friendship with Holst.{{Cite book |last=Huismann |first=Mary Christison |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWCRAgAAQBAJ&dq=adrian+boult+gustav+holst+meet&pg=PT53 |title=Gustav Holst: A Research and Information Guide |date=2011-04-26 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-84526-1 |language=en}}

Instrumentation

Holst scored the Japanese Suite for two piccolos, cor anglais, timpani, glockenspiel, gong, xylophone, cymbals, sleigh bells, bass drum, harp and strings.{{Cite web |title=Gustav Holst - Japanese Suite |url=https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Gustav-Holst-Japanese-Suite/664 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=www.boosey.com |language=en}} A typical performance takes around 12 minutes. John Boyd has arranged a version for concert band.{{Cite book |last=Ind.) |first=WFIU (Radio station : Bloomington |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vb_sAAAAMAAJ&q=holst+japanese+suite+opus+33+en+john+boyd+concert+band |title=Directions in Sound |date=2004 |publisher=Radio and Television Service of Indiana University |language=en}}

Score

[https://imslp.org/wiki/Japanese_Suite,_Op.33_(Holst,_Gustav) IMSLP Petrucci Music Library]

Recordings

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: left; margin-right: 0;"

! scope="col" |Orchestra

! scope="col" |Conductor

! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Venue

! scope="col" |Label

London Symphony Orchestra

| Sir Adrian Boult

| 1971

| Walthamstow Assembly Hall

| Lyrita

Philharmonia Orchestra

| Djong Victorin Yu

| 1998

| Royal Festival Hall

| Exton

BBC Philharmonic

| Andrew Davis

| 2011

| BBC Manchester studio

| Chandos

Ulster Orchestra

| JoAnn Falletta

| 2012

| Ulster Hall

| Naxos

Argovia Philharmonic

| Douglas Bostock

| 2015

| Kultur & Kongresshaus, Aarau, Switzerland

| MBM Musikproduktion

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

| Barry Wordsworth

| 2024

| BBC Studio 2, Maida Vale, London

| BBC Music Magazine

Alternative arrangements

In 2013, Goldstone & Clemmow recorded a version arranged for two pianos (label: Divine Art).

In 2015, a version for saxophone quartet was recorded by Japanese saxophonist Masataka Hirano and the Blue Aurora Saxophone Quartet (label: Naxos).{{Cite web |title=グスターヴ・ホルスト : V. Dance under the Cherry Tree - 3837682 - NML ナクソス・ミュージック・ライブラリー |url=https://ml.naxos.jp/track/3837682 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=ml.naxos.jp}}

In 2016, Stephen W. Pratt conducted the Indiana University Wind Ensemble in a recording of John Boyd's arrangement for concert band (University streaming service).{{Cite web |title=Indiana University Wind Ensemble, Stephen W. Pratt, Tiffany J. Galus, conductors (2016-04-05) {{!}} WorldCat.org |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/957994182 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=search.worldcat.org |language=en}}

In 2024, Marc Reift conducted the Philharmonic Wind Orchestra in a recording with a new arrangement by John Glenesk Mortimer (label: Marcophon).

Sources: WorldCat and Apple Classical