The Planets, Op.32 (Holst) – Audio + Sheet Music (w Two Piano score)
pf: London Symphony Orchestra cond/ André Previn
TIMECODES:
Mars, the Bringer of War – 0:05
Venus, the Bringer of Peace – 7:12
Mercury, the Winged Messenger – 15:56
Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity – 19:47
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age – 27:32
Uranus, the Magician – 37:25
Neptune, the Mystic – 43:29
Holst initially wrote this two piano version while Director of Music at St. Paul’s Girls School in London. However, since he was suffering from neuritis (and since there was no Finale or Sibelius at that time), he couldn’t orchestrate and write out the full score without the help of his friends. They played him the two piano version on Saturday mornings, and Holst would give them points on how to orchestrate different parts of the score. Overall it took two years (1914-16) to compose The Planets.
It’s interesting to note that Holst hated the publicity he gained from The Planets, claiming it overshadowed all his other work, which is true even today. The public were unhappy and impatient about the fact that Holst didn’t write more « Planets ». He got requests such as ‘Of cause the relation with your « Planeten » i beg you tell me, if jou are interested to sett to musik the pantomime ballet « Journey in the ether. »‘ or « Dear Sir, As you have painted the « Planets » in music, could you do the eight wives of Henry VIII? » Eventually this stress made Holst feel exhausted, and he decided to move to the countryside for a few years.
Holst’s own favourite movement was ‘Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age’. Not surprising, because it’s probably the most « Holst-ian » movement of The Planets!
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