Holst's the Planet Listening Activity

Santos, Regina Kacelyn Gail D.

ARTH103

Gustav Holst

* He was born on September 21, 1874 in Cheltenham, England. He started playing the piano when he was still a child although he was having a hard time playing due to the neuritis in his hands but he still continued to play though. He began composing while at Cheltenham Grammar School and spent two months at Oxford learning counterpoint before being sent to London to study composition under Stanford at the Royal College of Music. He’s also a teacher/lecturer of music in different schools/universities until his death. In 1892, Holst composed a two-act operetta, called Lansdown Castle, which was produced at the Cheltenham Corn Exchange the following year. Other of his works are The Planets in 1916, Choral Symphony in 1923 and Egdon Heath in 1927. As time pass by, Holst’s health continue to decline. He died on May 25, 1934.

The Planets Op. 32

* Gustav Holst started writing The Planets in 1914 and it took him two years before he could finish it. It’s original title was Seven Pieces for Large Orchestra. He calls this piece a series of mood pictures for it has 7 parts that depicts different emotions and pictures. He didn’t consider The Planets as his best work although the audience says otherwise. The piece was first performed in a private concert in 1918. 7 parts of The Planets:

* Mars, the Bringer of War

* Venus, the Bringer of Peace

* Mercury, the Winged Messenger

* Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

* Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

* Uranus, the Magician

* Neptune, the Mystic

* Mars, the Bringer of War

This part of the piece reminded me of Star Wars wherein it’s the theme of Darth Vader, it’s called The Imperial March. It also can be a theme of a game or any movie wherein it can be background music for conflicts happening, zooming in the face of the villain while having his signature evil laugh, scheming villains, fighting, clashing with the enemies,...