The planets, composed in 191416 and premiered under the baton of adrian boult, made gustav holst a very popular figure. Two of robsons book are now at the holst birthplace museum in cheltenham. The planets is an orchestral suite composed by gustav holst, between 1914 and 1916. The english composer gustav holst completed his most famous work, the planets, about 15 years before pluto was discovered. The planets according to holst the characteristics of each planet as holst conceived them can be found in the book what is a horoscope. Holst composed the planets over a course of two years, beginning in the summer of 1914 with mars and continuing through the other movements in order, except for mercury which he wrote last. The planets paperback april 2, 2015 by holst author 4. Each movement offers his impressions of the characteristics associated with one of the seven planets known at the time. Mars, the bringer of war venus, the bringer of peace. Of the various movements, mars and jupiter are the most frequently heard. The war years were extremely productive, as the composer not only completed the planets, but also wrote hymn of jesus. Among the most popular and important modern british composers, gustav holst 18741934 was a true eccentric, given to odd enthusiasms and mystical musings. Holst the planets juanjo mena conducts the cso in a program featuring holsts powerful and haunting the planets. That might help to explain why the first two segments are about war and peace.
Holst also used alan leos book what is a horoscope. Neptune, the mystic from holsts, the planets staggered booklet. The planets as a rule i only study things which suggest music to me. Full orchestral score of gustav holsts the planets, op. His distinctive compositional style was the product of many influences, richard wagner and richard strauss being. Planet flip book inspired elementary science, physics and astronomy. With the bbc symphony orchestra and the elysian singers womens voices conducted by susanna malkki. His spectacular symphonic suite the planets, first performed in 1918, established his international reputation and remains a staple of the orchestral repertoire to this day. Holst astrology and modernism in the planets tempo. The real holst was a more serious composer than one. Gustav holst students britannica kids homework help. This book is the first comprehensive guide to holsts orchestral suite the planets. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the solar system and its corresponding astrological character as defined by holst. Holsts planets vladimir ashkenazys masterworks the planets is a musthear event with ashkenazy as your guide to the heavens, and virtuoso alexei volodin seduces with the medtners piano concerto.
In his maturity, he managed to merge these various influences into a rather sparse personal style that became increasingly transparent in his later years. Best known for his orchestral suite the planets, he composed many other works across a range of genres, although none achieved comparable success. Jun 16, 2009 the planets, composed in 191416 and premiered under the baton of adrian boult, made gustav holst a very popular figure. Juanjo mena conducts the cso in a program featuring holsts powerful and haunting the planets.
It considers the music in detail and places the work in its historical. The planets is a musthear event with ashkenazy as your guide to the heavens, and virtuoso alexei volodin seduces with the medtners piano concerto russia comes to london with a concerto by nikolai medtner, the russian virtuoso who settled there in the 1930s. Mars, the bringer of war venus, the bringer of peace mercury, the winged messenger. But theres far more to holsts masterpiece than just great melodies, and tonight, 100 years. Oct 31, 2019 guest conductor juanjo mena leads the chicago symphony orchestra in a program featuring holsts the planets. English composer and music teacher gustav holst is noted for the excellence of his orchestration and the international flavor of many of his works. Paperback this is the first published version of gustav holsts the planets. In 1914, holst began work on what would become his most popular composition, the planets. The spiral binding allows the book to lie flat when opened to any page. In the early 20th century, composer gustav holst wrote a sevenpart suite for an orchestra called the planets.
Sally matthews, a soprano of incandescent verve the times, london, performs two scenes from barbers 1966 opera that opened the metropolitan operas new house at lincoln center. Starting with holsts particular interest in astrology, greene reveals a profound statement of human character and holsts own psychological. Holsts the planets received its first public performance in 1919, and with it holst achieved the first real success of his career. Jupiter, from gustav holsts planet suite, being played by the royal liverpool philharmonic orchestra and conducted by sir charles mackerras. Holsts planets suite is reimagined with the benefit of todays scientific knowledge in a dizzying.
He was a very interesting man fascinated by space, astrology, alternative faiths, meditation and vegetarianism in many ways he was completely ahead of his time. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the solar system and its corresponding astrological character as defined by holst from its premiere to the present day, the suite has been enduringly popular, influential, widely performed and frequently recorded. His spectacular symphonic work the planets, first performed in 1918, established his international reputation and remains a staple of the orchestral repertoire to this day. Gustav holst the planets project creative classrooms connect. In 1907, following an algerian cycling holiday, holst wrote beni mora. Books by gustav holst author of the planets in full score. The planets, by richard greene, is a book length study of the music cambridge. It is a remarkably effective work, very varied and brilliantly scored for the orchestra, with the chracter of each of the seven movements suggested by the astrological properties given to the various planets of the solar system. Medtners music has long been overshadowed by that of his friend rachmaninoff, but his first concerto revels in the sheer beauty. Mars independent, confident, ambitious, enterprising. The planets by richard greene cambridge university press.
We have found that by working in a creative, handson. He drafted it as a twopiano score during weekends in a soundproof room at st. Two books by the composers daughter imogen holst are, unfortunately, both out of print. However, with war raging, a performance seemed unlikely until, in september 1918, an animated holst buttonholed adrian boult. Gustav holst has 80 books on goodreads with 182 ratings.
The planets, holst continued to cast his friends horoscopes. Jupiter, the bringer of jollity from holsts, the planets staggered book venus, the bringer of peace from holsts, the planets staggered book mercury. The planets is an interesting book, but one that is not for everyone. If you are looking for highly technical or academic treatment of planetary science, look elsewhere. The planets, his bestknown work, is a sevenmovement piece for orchestra.
Cambridge core twentiethcentury and contemporary music holst. The soundworld that he created in this exotic work presaged that of the planets, which was completed in 1916. Sally matthews, hailed as a soprano of incandescent verve, performs two. Gustav holst was a leading figure in the new age of english music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known primarily for his popular orchestral composition, the planets, gustav holst embraced a wide variety of musical models, from arthur sullivan, edvard grieg, and wagner to the melodic simplicity of english folk music. It is notable for its elaborate score for large orchestra with some unusual instruments, and it represents the mostperformed composition by an english composer. It considers the music in detail and places the work in its historical context, describing the circumstances of. Its first public performance took place in 1920, and it was an instant success. This score incorporates two versions of the vocal score. Between 1914 and 1916, the early years of the great war, english composer gustav holst 18741934 began writing his mostfamous piece of music, the sevenmovement orchestral suite the planets, premiering it in 1918. The piece was inspired by astrology, not astronomy though he wasnt. This resource is designed to help you and your class use gustav holsts the planets suite in the classroom.
Click on the button to go to the page where you can download the music at the end of each line you find more information about the music of that specific performer. The planets richard greene, kenneth hamilton, greene. In spring 1918, holst began educational work for the ymca at its various facilities on european battlefields. Gustav holsts most popular book is the planets in full score. If you want to get an overview of the planets in our solar system, this book does that. The real holst was a more serious composer than one might think from a.
Mars, venus, jupiter everyone has their favourite bit of the planets. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the solar. Detroitbased composer james lee iiis celebratory sukkot through orions nebula illustrates an ancient. In the book, leo described the planets, giving each a small description, and expanding upon the astrological significance of each. Oct 07, 2010 jupiter, from gustav holst s planet suite, being played by the royal liverpool philharmonic orchestra and conducted by sir charles mackerras. Thus, writing to a friend in 19, did holst confirm the source of inspiration for his suite for large orchestra a reminder, if any were needed, that holst. Gustav holst holst wants to write a substantial piece for a large orchestra his interest in astrology sparks his inspiration for the planets inspired by a book by astrologer alan leo, who is often referred to as the father of modern astrology.
The planets by gustav holst classical music inspired by astrology. Pauls girls school in hammersmith where he taught and, due to his neuritis. Written between 1914 and 1916, the planets is a sevenmovement orchestral suite by english composer gustav holst. The planets suite, for orchestra is a brilliant example of 20th century orchestral composition. Home composers performers instruments genres top 100 info links other help. Each part was inspired by and named after one of the seven planets in our solar system and their astrological character. Gustav holst the planets project creative classrooms. It considers the music in detail and places the work in its historical context, describing the circumstances of its composition and its meteoric rise to popular acclaim. One, a students text book of astrology london, 1922 is inscribed with best wishes from the author.
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