Analyses
Gustav Holst - First Suite in E-flat, Op. 28a (1909)

Remarks
Revised & edited by Colin Matthews
Program Notes
I. Chaconne
Allegro moderato
mm. 1-8 Theme (euphonium, tuba, DB)
mm. 9-16 Variation I (Eb) Ð harmonized by 2 contrapuntal lines in cnt (tbn)
mm. 17-24 Variation II (Eb) Ð harmonized in ww, melody in bass (bcl, bsn, tsax, DB)
A
mm. 25-32 Variation III (Eb) Ð staccato 16th notes (bcl, bsn, bsax, euph, tuba, DB)
mm. 33-40 Variation IV (Eb) Ð repeated rhythms (bcl, bsn, bsax, tbn, euph, tuba, DB)
B Brillante
mm. 41-48 Variation V (Eb) Ð slurred 16th notes in ww (brass)
mm. 49-56 Variation VI (Eb) Ð pesante 8th notes in lows (cnt, tpt)
C
mm. 57-64 Variation VII (Eb) Ð thin texture, legato (cl III, horn I)
mm. 65-72 Variation VIII (Eb) Ð flute & oboe counterpoint alto sax I
mm. 73-80 Variation IX (c) Ð theme inversion, legato ww (cl I, cl III, alto sax I, horn I)
D
mm. 81-88 Variation X (c) Ð theme inversion, hemiola rhythm in lows, ominous (cnt I&II, euph)
mm. 89-96 Variation XI (c) - hemiola rhythm in lows, ominous (tbn)
E
mm. 97-104 Variation XII (Eb) Ð soft, dominant pedal (cnt I, euph)
mm. 105-113 Variation XIII (Eb) Ð crescendo to climax, dominant pedal (upper ww, cnt I, horn I & III)
F Maestoso
mm. 114- 121 Variation XIV (Eb) Ð climax, tutti ff (bcl, bsn, bsax, tbn, euph, tuba, DB)
mm. 122-131 Variation XV (Eb) Ð ending, tonic pedal, tutti ff, theme transposed up P5th (cnt I & II, tbn)
 
II. Intermezzo
Vivace
mm. 1-24 Theme A (c) (ww, cnt I)
A
mm. 25-42 agitated ostinato (c), travelling music (cl, cnt, horn)
B
mm. 43-66 Theme A (c) with descending 4 notes (oboe, solo cl, cnt I)
C L'istesso tempo
mm. 67-83 Theme B (g phrygian) 4/4, legato with motion (solo cl, fl, horn I)
D
mm. 84-98 Theme B (g phrygian), running 8ths in ww (cnt I, euph)
mm. 99-108 Theme A (f minor) fragment over different harmony (euph)
E
mm. 109-122 Theme A (c), finished in key (tutti, oboe, solo cl, cnt I)
F L'istesso tempo
mm. 123-end Coda (C major) 4/4, counterpoint of Theme A & Theme B
 
III. March
Tempo di Marcia
mm. 1-4 Introduction (Eb), frantic ww
mm. 5-36 Theme A (Eb)
A
mm. 37-70 Trio, Theme B (Ab) based on mvmt II Theme A, legato, short in basses
B
mm. 71-88 Theme B second half only
mm. 89-98 Theme A in ww, musicbox
C
mm. 99-122 Transition to climax, crescendo, Theme A fragments
D
mm. 123-162 Theme A with movement I Theme A, use of dominant & tonic pedals
Meno mosso
mm. 163-168 Slower, aiming for coda, tutti fff
Piœ mosso
mm. 169-179 Coda, tutti ffff, use of fragments of movement II Theme A

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