The Planets, Op. 32

191741 min

This guide follows Holst’s The Planets, Op. 32 (1917) in six parts: 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 and Uranus, the Magician.

Recording: National Youth Orchestra, Edward Gardner (2016)

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Analysis Comments

IMars, the Bringer of War
IIVenus, the Bringer of Peace
IIIMercury, the Winged Messenger
IVJupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
VSaturn, the Bringer of Old Age
VIUranus, the Magician

IMars, the Bringer of War0:03–7:15

A relentless in five beats to the (5/4), a count that would trip up marching soldiers. It opens quietly, with percussion, harp and strings tapping with the wood of the bow (col legno), and the repeating pattern () keeps going almost unchanged. Brass fanfares add menace, and dissonance builds as moving chords clash with held bass notes. A contrasting section (B) follows, then a and a of the opening (A1). The whole builds to a huge, dissonant , and then the begins.

Mars: A
B

IIVenus, the Bringer of Peace7:19–14:36

IIIMercury, the Winged Messenger15:11–18:51

IVJupiter, the Bringer of Jollity19:01–26:27

VSaturn, the Bringer of Old Age26:47–35:31

VIUranus, the Magician35:35–41:02

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

I. Mars, the Bringer of War7 min · 185 bars · quarter note ≈ 158 bpm
II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace7 min · 141 bars · quarter note ≈ 70 bpm
III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger4 min · 296 bars
IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity7 min · 409 bars · quarter note ≈ 146 bpm
V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age9 min · 155 bars · quarter note ≈ 92 bpm
VI. Uranus, the Magician5 min · 250 bars

Instruments: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Bass clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Glockenspiel, bells, Celesta, Harp, Organ, Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double bass

Gustav Holst, The Planets, Op. 32, I. Mars, the Bringer of War: first page of the score — Full score

Questions

How long is The Planets, Op. 32?: About 41 min in this recording, in 6 movements: I 7 min, II 7 min, III 4 min, IV 7 min, V 9 min and VI 5 min.
Which instruments play in The Planets, Op. 32?: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Bass clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Glockenspiel, bells, Celesta, Harp, Organ, Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double bass.
How fast is it played?: In this recording, measured from the score: I quarter note ≈ 158 bpm, II quarter note ≈ 70 bpm, IV quarter note ≈ 146 bpm and V quarter note ≈ 92 bpm.
Is there a score of Gustav Holst's The Planets, Op. 32?: Yes, of I, II, IV, V and VI.

More by Holst

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In listening paths

Path 27

20th-century classical music

Twelve directions the century took, from Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht of 1899 to Piazzolla's tango of 1982.

Schoenberg → Ives → Bartók → Holst → Gershwin → Barber → Prokofiev → Copland → Ligeti → Górecki → Piazzolla

12 works · 4 h 14 min

In the catalog

Gustav Holst Orchestral works Modern period