Fantasia
on
the
Dargason
Second Suite in F for Military Band, Fourth Movement
Gustav Holst
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Born September 21, 1874; died 25 May 1934
English composer
Most famous composition is orchestral
suites, The Planets
MARS
JUPITER
Influenced by Grieg, Wagner, Richard
Strauss and fellow student, Ralph Vaughan
Williams
Musical Characteristics: unconventional use
of meter and haunting melodies
Composed almost 200 works,
including operas, ballets, choral hymns and
songs.
Second Suite in F
• The Second Suite in F for Military Band is Gustav Holst's
second and last suite for concert band
• 4 movements
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March
Song without Words
Song of the Blacksmith
Fantasia of the Dargason
• His first was First Suite in E-flat, and both a staples to the
realm of band literature.
Second Suite in F
• Written in 1911
• Dedicated to James Causley Windram
• Took interest (like many English composers at the time) in
writing pieces based on folk music
• Ralph Vaughan Williams had based his English Folk Song
Suite on English folk tunes
• Did the same with the Second Suite
– Seven folk tunes in four movements
Themes of the Piece
• A theme
– The Dargason theme is always present
– Even in the last 11 bars, it is broken up, but present
– The rest piece the exact same theme is in at least one instrument
• B theme
– Greensleeves appears twice
– Second time is climax of piece
• Anything else played is rhythmic or sustained harmony
What is a Daragson?
• One of two melodies in the 4th movement
• Based on the folk song "Dargason”
• A 17th century English dance tune from
the first edition of The Dancing Master
• "Dargason", also known by the name of
"Sedanny” and many other names
What is a Daragson?
Dancing Instructions
for Dargason from The
Dancing Master
Lyrics and Dance
Dargason Dance
Lyrics and Dance
• Many melodic variants, as well as other lyrics and other titles
• First Verse:
– When I was at home, I was merry and frisky.
My dad kept a pig, but my mother sold whiskey.
My uncle was rich, but ne’er could be aisey (=easy)
Till I was enlisted by Corporal Casey.
Och, rub-a-dub, row-de-dow, Corporal Casey,
My dear little Shelah I thought would run crazy
When I trudged away with tough Corporal Casey.
Och, rub-a-dub row-de-row, Shelah my love.
• Non-serious tone, light hearted context
Lyrics and Dance
• Very Repetitive
– Dargason theme always present
• Repetitive because it’s a dance
• Need same melodic idea so non-music people can keep track of song and
learn to join in quickly
• 8-bar ‘circular’ melody lending itself easily to combination with others
Competing Themes
• Second Melody; first enters at m. 57 with the euphonium solo
• Greensleeves
– English folk song
– Love Song
• Also may recognize as the Christmas song: What Child is This?
• Lyrics:
Verse:
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.
Chorus:
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.
Competing Themes
• Two Different time signatures:
– Dargason: 6/8 (2 feel)
– Greensleves: 3/4 (1 feel)
• Context of Songs:
– Dargason: Playful courtship
– Greensleeves: Rejection of Love
Musical Purpose
• How do you DANCE to
this?
• 2 ways:
– 1st try some modern beats
behind it: (1:25)
Musical Purpose
• How do you DANCE to this?
• 2 ways:
– 1st try some modern beats behind it:
– 2nd, the song goes from a 2 feel to a 1 feel. It is the same
kind of idea as going from a 4 feel to a 2 feel. For example:
– My First Kiss by B.O.B.
Within the Music
• Three key concepts to apply in this piece:
Articulation
Balance
Phrase
Within the Music
• Articulation
– Light and Bouncy – Dargason
– Long and Connected – Greensleeves
• Let’s try the two different styles:
Within the Music
• Balance - Continually changing throughout piece
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Soloists, Duets
Woodwinds only
Brass only
Combinations
Full Ensemble
• Same exercise and loop switching between different soloists
and sections
Within the Music
• Phrase
– Shape the line
– Continuous air
• Phrase is broken up at times, so still it direction as its pass to
another section
– One section will play first half of Dargason theme and another section
will finish it – Connect the idea
Within the Music
• Shape the line – Where is are you leading to?
• Continuous air – Across the barline
For Next Time…
• Look up other folks songs in other 3 movements
• For the other folk songs be able to:
– Describe their original purpose
– Describe the style of the song
– Find at least one another form of one of the folk songs