Jon Mitchell

A century ago, James Causley Windram, then band director of the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers (and later the Coldstream Guards) asked Gustav Holst if he would transcribe some of the composer’s Hymns from the Rig Veda for military band. Always a band advocate, Holst readily agreed. In this thoroughly characteristic suite, two of Windram’s settings (Hymn of the Travellers and Battle Hymn) have been edited for modern instrumentation, while a third (Hymn to Manas) has been arranged by Jon Ceander Mitchell from Holst’s original choral setting.