Holst

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Gustav Theodore Holst, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

In ancient Roman religion Mars was the god of war. Holst composed this piece in anticipation of the outbreak of World War One.

Listen out for: The opening two harps, strings playing with the wood of the bow, timpani using very hard-headed sticks and the gong. There’s also a solo from the euphonium.

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

By Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Gustav Theodore Holst, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

The cool blue Venus follows angry red Mars (see this post). The music is slower and beautifully eerie, complete with relaxing tunes played on harps and flutes, shimmering strings, and solo violin passages to call to mind the Roman goddess.

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

Flighty and fast, the lively Mercury is quick and powerful in equal measure. The high-pitched harp, flute, and glockenspiel tunes hop, skip, and jump throughout.

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

As the round-faced cheery uncle of all the planets, and king of the gods, Jupiter is impressive and majestic. The swelling brass and slow waltzing strings are met with moments of poignant beauty in the glorious tune now known as I Vow to Thee My Country.

The other movements in the suite so far can be found below:

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

A favourite movement of Holst’s, Saturn is quite a shift from the positive music heard in Jupiter. The opening is slow and almost unsettling, until the music expands into a heavy march.

The other movements in the suite so far can be found below:

IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: VI. Uranus, the Magician

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

Starting with four brassy notes, Uranus shifts from heavy timpani blows to a boisterous gallop. The full orchestra shows the impressive power of this icy planet, represented in Greek mythology as the god of the sky.

The other movements in the suite so far can be found below:

IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

10 March

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) – Op. 32: VII. Neptune, the Mystic

Gustav Theodore Holst 21st September 1874 – 25th May 1934

Gustav Holst
by Herbert Lambert (1881–1936) – National Portrait Gallery – Portrait NPG Ax7745; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7667183

Gustav Theodore Holst was an English composer, arranger and teacher.

The Planets, Op. 32, is his seven-movement orchestral suite written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System.

Beautiful harp and string melodies slide over each other, until Holst uses a mystical choir, which gives the music an other-worldly quality.

The other movements in the suite so far can be found below: