Gustav Holst

Christmas Day

'Christmas Day - a Choral Fantasy on Old Carols', was written in 1910 shortly after Gustav Holst had finished the three groups of 'Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda' and around the same time as the 'First Suite in Eb' for military band. The first performance of 'Christmas Day' was given at Morley College on 28 January 1911. Apparently it was extremely well-received and had a further presentation on 18 February at a music students' 'Tea and Social' event. Holst used a number of well-known carols in this 'fantasy'. Throughout the piece, the composer makes use of 'Good Christian Men Rejoice', 'God rest you merry gentlemen', 'The First Nowell' and a traditional Breton melody used to set the words 'Come ye lofty come ye lonely'. According to contemporary reviewers, Holst's 'Christmas Day' is an extremely attractive fantasia of mostly well known carols, harmonized distinctively but still pleasingly.