Thaxted I vow to thee...

This short film, sponsored by the Friends of Thaxted Church, celebrates the centenary of Holst’s glorious music and his link with the beautiful village of Thaxted where he was once church organist. Gustav Holst’s ’Planet Suite’ was first performed in 1918 when he was living in the historic village of Thaxted in North Essex. The hymn ’I vow to thee my country’, the tune of which was adapted from the theme of ’Jupiter’, has become one of the nation’s favourite hymns and was named ‘Thaxted’ by Holst himself. The words to the hymn were taken from a poem by Cecil Spring Rice. Written at the end of a brutal war, the music is a stirring affirmation of hope.