Jig from 'St. Pauls Suite' (Holst)

The Jig from St. Paul's Suite is an exuberant dance originating from Scottish and Irish folk music in alternating duple and triple time (mostly 6/8 and 9/8), sometimes called Gigue. Geoffrey Brand adapted the original orchestra version for wind band quite beautifully. The clear counterpoint with clever changes of meter and rhythmical emphasis offers an intriguing insight into Holst's sound-world.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 3:40

Instrumentation
1st Flute
2nd Flute
1st Oboe
2nd Oboe*
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd Bb Clarinet
Eb Alto Clarinet*
Bb Bass Clarinet*
1st Bassoon
2nd Bassoon*
1st Eb Alto Saxophone
2nd Eb Alto Saxophone*
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone*

1st Bb Cornet
2nd Bb Cornet
3rd Bb Cornet
1st Bb Trumpet
2nd Bb Trumpet
1st F Horn
2nd F Horn
3rd F Horn
4th F Horn*
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone*
3rd Trombone
Euphonium
(TC Baritone)
Tuba

String Bass*

Parts marked with an asterisk (*) are NOT ESSENTIAL, although their presence will obviously enable a fuller realization of the composer's intention to be had.

Program Notes
In 1911 Gustav Holst took over responsibility for the St. Paul's Girls' School Orchestra in London, which, according to his biographer Michael Short at that time consisted of a few violins, viola, cello and double-bass "to which a tambourine, two toy drums and some tin whistles were sometimes added."

In the same tradition as Purcell and Haydn, Holst decided to write for this school orchestra and he began the four-movement St. Paul's Suite for Strings in 1912, the Finale of which is a transcription of the fourth movement of the Suite No. 2 for Military Band. Geoffrey Brand conceived the idea of arranging this Jig - the first movement of St. Paul's Suite - for concert band.

It fits the medium beautifully. The clear counterpoint with clever changes of meter and rhythmical emphasis offers an intriguing insight into Holst's sound-world.