Gustav Holst

The Planets are perhaps Gustav Holst’s most famous work, though he hated the popularity that it gave him. Divided into seven movements, each depicting a different planet, the piece was conceived as a “series of mood pictures.”

Holst may have gained inspiration for this great work from several sources. In 1913, he travelled to Spain with astrologer Clifford Bax, brother of the composer Arnold Bax (who was later the librettist for Holst’s The Wandering Scholar). Bax introduced him to the concepts of astrology, and they became fast friends.

Holst also owned a book entitled The Art of Synthesis by Alan Leo, an astrologer and theosophist. The structure of The Planets is similar to that of the book, which described the astrological characteristics of each planet in individual chapters. In fact, the title “Neptune the Mystic” is the same in both the book and Holst’s work.

The Planets also reflects Holst’s musical influences at that time. At about the time Holst composed this work, Schoenberg and Stravinsky both visited England; Schoenberg conducted his Five Orchestral Pieces Op. 18, while Stravinsky conducted his Le Sacre du Printemps. Holst was clearly impressed by these works; he named the drafts for The Planets “Seven orchestral Pieces,” and the first movement, ‘Mars’, explores the dissonance that is so frequently associated with Stravinsky. ‘Neptune’ is also reminiscent of Debussy’s early piano pieces.

The work demonstrates some form of progression, starting with ‘Mars, The Bringer of War,’ a stark, menacing image. (More about Mars in last month’s article.) ‘Venus, The Bringer of Peace’ is the answer to ‘Mars’; it is the calm after conflict, in counterpoint with the violence of the previous movement.. ‘Mercury, The Winged Messenger,’ flitting lightly, is the link between our world and that of the Gods, while ‘Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity’ depicts the prime of life, full of joyous energy. This gives way to ‘Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age’ - Holst’s personal favorite amongst the movements, it is closer to his later mature style. ‘Uranus, The Magician’ presents a robust climax before the choir enchants the audience with ‘Neptune, The Mystic,’ celestial and ethereal.
(Pluto was only discovered in 1930; even today, astronomers dispute its classification as a planet.)

The Planets was immensely popular, and Holst hated that. When asked for his autograph, he would hand out a sheet of typed paper stating that he did not give any. The public clamored for more, but Holst disappointed them. He even swore off his belief in astrology not long after writing the piece.

The work was first performed at a private concert in 1918 under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult. The public premiere was conducted by Albert Coates in Queen’s Hall in 1920.

Listen to the merciless dissonance of Mars, the Bringer of War,
  the gaity in Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,
  and the sombre Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age.

Read more about Mars, the Bringer of War in last month’s article by Paul Huang.

Recommended recording:
Holst - The Planets: John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra and Monteverdi Choir in this definitive recording. On par, if not better than others by Dutoit and Davis.