
Why Gustav Holst Wrote the First Suite in E-flat
Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elm Fork II
Friday, March 28th
10:30 am
Clinic Synopsis
Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-flat for Military Band is arguably the most iconic work in the wind band repertoire. Despite the piece’s 116-year existence, however, Holst’s purpose for composing the First Suite has never been confirmed. Through an examination of primary sources using methods such as handwriting analysis and digital image manipulation, this presentation will offer a solution to the century-old mystery of why Holst wrote his suite. New mysteries, such as the identity of the person who helped Holst prepare the initial reading of the work, will be investigated and addressed. The presentation will conclude with a short discussion about the implications of these findings as they pertain to the legacy of this cornerstone work for winds: how much of the First Suite’s success is owed to Holst, and how much is owed to others?
Biography
Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant directs the Symphony Band, teaches conducting classes, and leads a graduate conducting seminar at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also serves as Conductor of the Winchendon Winds. Prior to her appointment at UMass Amherst, Bronnenkant taught basic conducting at Nazareth College and led the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Community Wind Ensemble as she completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting degree at the Eastman School of Music. In her time at Eastman, she served as Assistant/Associate Conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensembles, Assistant Conductor and Teaching Assistant for the University of Rochester Wind Symphony, and Teaching Assistant for basic conducting classes. She was a Frederick Fennell Conducting Fellow and a finalist for the Eastman School of Music Teaching Assistant Prize.
Prior to her graduate studies, Bronnenkant was the Director of Bands at the Aquinas Institute of Rochester, Director of the University of Rochester Pep Band, Director of the Newark High School Parade Band, and Interim Conductor of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra. She has additionally assistant directed the Eastman Community Music School Summer High School Wind Ensemble Workshop each summer since 2010.
Bronnenkant has had the opportunity to conduct premier ensembles such as the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the University of Michigan Symphony Band, and the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” at their 2017 Conductor Showcase Concert. A recipient of the American Prize Career Encouragement Certificate in wind conducting, she has also been invited to work with school, youth, and community ensembles on original and classic works.
As a composer, Bronnenkant wrote her first work for wind ensemble, Symphony for Singer, self-taught at 18 years old. Her first published work, Tarot (2021), was designated the runner-up to the 2021 National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest. The piece is based on original research on Gustav Holst and was presented as part of Bronnenkant’s doctoral conducting recital and lecture presentation.
Bronnenkant holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music (D.M.A. Wind Conducting, ’22), the University of Michigan (M.M. Wind Conducting, ‘19), Nazareth College (B.M. Music Education, ’14), and the University of Rochester (B.S. Brain and Cognitive Sciences, ’10). Her conducting mentors include Mark Scatterday, Michael Haithcock, Jared Chase, and Nancy Strelau, and she has taken composition lessons with Keane Southard, Nancy Strelau, Christopher Winders, David Liptak, and Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez. Bronnenkant is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi, and she is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Additional professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), the National Band Association (NBA), the College Music Society (CMS), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).