I Vow to Thee, My Country (Holst/Steadman-Allen)

Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets is perhaps his best known and most popular composition. The them in the central section of the movement Jupiter was adapted by the composer himself to fit the words of the song and has subsequently found its way into use as a hymn tune under the title Thaxted (named after the Essex town where the composer lived).

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 3 | Duration: 3:25

Instrumentation
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
Horn in F 1
Horn in F 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Tuba

Percussion 1 (Timpani)
Percussion 2 (Side Drum, Suspended Cymbal)

Program Notes
Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets is perhaps his best known and most popular composition. The them in the central section of the movement Jupiter was adapted by the composer himself to fit the words of the song and has subsequently found its way into use as a hymn tune under the title Thaxted (named after the Essex town where the composer lived).

Ray Steadman-Allen's arrangement of the tune for brass band was published by The Salvation Army in 1998. That arrangement has now been transcribed for wind band by Brian Bowen. It can be effectively used as a stand-alone concert item or as a song accompaniment for either choir or audience.