Gustav Holst: Tears, Idle Tears From 'Songs From The Princess' for SSAA

The intertwining of women’s voices in Gustav Holst ’s Tears, Idle Tears will lend an elevated atmosphere to any performance, giving this secular piece an almost sacred character. It was written for a cappella female chorus (SSAA) in 1905 as the 3rd movement of the 5-movement suite ‘Songs From The Princess’, which was based on 5 thematic short poem’s from the British poet Tennyson’s long narrative poem, ‘The Princess’ (1847). Performance time is approximately 2 minutes. As an experienced instrumentalist and orchestra member, English composer, arranger and teacher Gustav Holst understood music from the standpoint of his players and made sure that, however challenging, their parts were always practicable – a compositional characteristic still well received and appreciated by performers and audiences today.

Gustav Holst: The Splendour Falls for SSA

The Splendour Falls and the other songs from The Princess were written for a performance of tableaux from The Princess by the girls of James Allen Girls’ School in London, where Holst taught. The song is scored for Female Voices SA with a small echo choir, unaccompanied, and is full of recognizably Holstian shifting harmonies and Vocal effects. In 1847, Alfred Tennyson – later Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom – published a narrative poem, The Princess, that concerned the education of women. In The Princess, set at a summer fete, a new college for women is created by Princess Ida. A Prince and his friends infiltrate, dressed as women. A love story ensues. The Princess was also the source material for Gilbert and Sullivan’s Princess Ida.

Holst: O Swallow, Swallow

A part-song for female voices, with words by Tennyson and music by Holst. From The Princess.

Gustav Holst: O Swallow Swallow From 'Songs From The Princess' for SSAA

Haydn: Wind Band Mass (Harmonie-Messe) Vocal Score

Vocal Score edition of 'Harmonie-Messe' Hob.XXII:14, for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soli, SATB choir and orchestra. Revised by Michael Pilkington. The Wind Band Mass is the last of Haydn's six great Masses composed for the name-day of Princess Maria Jospha Hermenegild between 1796 and 1802. This vocal score is based on the Complete Works edition of Friedrich Lippmann.