Is Gustav Holst a one hit wonder with THE PLANETS?

[Christo]

Is there perhaps a "symphony bias" at play against Holst? 

I guess there's a point. Holst completed at least two symphonies, but only the Choral Symphony is a major composition:
1. Symphony in F major "The Cotswolds" (1900)
2. First Choral Symphony (1924)
3. And started a third one in 1933 before his untimely death (not the promised 'Second Choral Symphony' however) from wich we have a promising Scherzo (1934)

And I normaly play the last three movements of The Planets (1916) as if it where a symphony in three movements:
1. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
2. Uranus, the Magician
3. Neptune, the Mystic

[Jo498]

Errr, there's also a musical world outside of Germany.  (Though I do appreciate the German musical world highly too!)

Sure, but I am already looking outside because restricted to Germany/Austria Barber would be closer to "no hit - no wonder"
The "Adagio" has nowhere the status in Germany as a semi-official mourning music it has in the anglosphere.

[vandermolen]

I guess there's a point. Holst completed at least two symphonies, but only the Choral Symphony is a major composition:
1. Symphony in F major "The Cotswolds" (1900)
2. First Choral Symphony (1924)
3. And started a third one in 1933 before his untimely death (not the promised 'Second Choral Symphony' however) from wich we have a promising Scherzo (1934)

And I normaly play the last three movements of The Planets (1916) as if it where a symphony in three movements:
1. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
2. Uranus, the Magician
3. Neptune, the Mystic

Saturn was Holst's favourite Planet and mine too. Stephen Johnson has suggested that Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony was a tribute to Holst - certainly it seems to show the influence of Mars (first movement), Saturn (second movement) Uranus (scherzo) and especially Neptune in the 'Epilogue'.

[cilgwyn]

'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' by Dukas comes to mind as well.

I prefer his opera,Ariane et Barbe-bleue. More like a huge tone poem with voices,in some ways. Just let the fabulous orchestration and haunting atmosphere 'wash' over you. (It's not one of those warbly operas!). I'm sure even vandermolen,with his famous loathing of opera,could even muster some enthusiasm for this one! It's twilit world has been compared with that of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. But the Dukas opera is more immediately lyrical and approachable. When I listen to the Debussy opera,I find myself looking at the booklet,at frequent intervals. With the Dukas opera,I can just leave it on,sit back,and enjoy the fabulous sounds coming from the headphones (or speakers?). Unfortunately,there aren't so many "other" works by Dukas to choose from. He didn't compose that much music;and he was so self critical,he seems to have thrown most of it away!
So,again,not really a one work composer for me!

[Christo]

Saturn was Holst's favourite Planet and mine too. Stephen Johnson has suggested that Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony was a tribute to Holst - certainly it seems to show the influence of Mars (first movement), Saturn (second movement) Uranus (scherzo) and especially Neptune in the 'Epilogue'.

Mine too. And I once made a radio documentary on their friendship and mutual influences, in which I presented the Sixth - at the end - as RVW's final tribute to his life-long friend. For exactly these reasons (I think we both totally agree with).

[kyjo]

Saturn was Holst's favourite Planet and mine too. Stephen Johnson has suggested that Vaughan Williams's 6th Symphony was a tribute to Holst - certainly it seems to show the influence of Mars (first movement), Saturn (second movement) Uranus (scherzo) and especially Neptune in the 'Epilogue'.

Very interesting. I had never thought about the connection between these two works before.

[vandermolen]

Mine too. And I once made a radio documentary on their friendship and mutual influences, in which I presented the Sixth - at the end - as RVW's final tribute to his life-long friend. For exactly these reasons (I think we both totally agree with).

That is very interesting - I think that you are probably right.

[vandermolen]

Very interesting. I had never thought about the connection between these two works before.

It is certainly an interesting speculation Kyle - after all VW and Holst were great friends and VW felt lost without Holst's friendship and advice when Holst died.

[Heck148]

If you have a second and third hit (like the two military suites, which are a mainstay of repertoire for the wind orchestra/band), how can someone be a one hit wonder?!?

precisely - my point exactly on the other forum....
- by any reasonable definition of musical "Hit" - a work that is part of the basic and essential repertoire would be included and regarded as such.
- Holst wrote several works that are part of the basic performance repertoire - ie - "Hits". Therefore -
- Holst would not be included as a "one hit wonder".

[vandermolen]

The answer to the above question is No! However I can't find a Holst thread other than 'Non-Planets Holst' started by myself 
Just to say that I'm delighted to see a new De Luxe release of William Steinberg's Boston SO recording of 'The Planets' - a truly classic recording IMHO. I like everything that I have heard by Steinberg not least his recording of Vaughan Williams's Five Tudor Portraits.
[asin]B079B3587V[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

Answer! NO!!

[Daverz]

Some favorite non-Planets Holst discs:

[asin]B000027QWB[/asin]
[asin]B000027QWD[/asin]
[asin]B00005QDYL[/asin]
[asin]B000NOIWTY[/asin]
[asin]B000007N5X[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

This is one of my favourite Holst cd's. I actually,prefer this to the more polished recordings by Hickox,on Chandos. It's also got King Estmere,which I like. (Hickox has got The Lure,though). I also like having these choral works on one cd. I like the painting on the front of this cd,too. This is one of those cd's that Hyperion don't like and seem determined not to reissue;although it's available to download. (Come on Hyperion,let's have a reissue on your Helios label!) I got my copy s/h as I prefer an actual cd,with a booklet. I think these are lovely,magical works. Especially,the The Golden Goose and The Morning of the Year. But I like them all.I actually,prefer them to The Planets,in many ways.
Oh,and I do wish Chandos would record his opera,The Perfect Fool. Alternatively,a cd of the BBC recording. There's allot of colourful,inventive music in it,and it really is fascinating to hear the famous ballet music in it's original context. A lovely work and a major omission from the Holst discography!

[vandermolen]

This is one of my favourite Holst cd's. I actually,prefer this to the more polished recordings by Hickox,on Chandos. It's also got King Estmere,which I like. (Hickox has got The Lure,though). I also like having these choral works on one cd. I like the painting on the front of this cd,too. This is one of those cd's that Hyperion don't like and seem determined not to reissue;although it's available to download. (Come on Hyperion,let's have a reissue on your Helios label!) I got my copy s/h as I prefer an actual cd,with a booklet. I think these are lovely,magical works. Especially,the The Golden Goose and The Morning of the Year. But I like them all.I actually,prefer them to The Planets,in many ways.
Oh,and I do wish Chandos would record his opera,The Perfect Fool. Alternatively,a cd of the BBC recording. There's allot of colourful,inventive music in it,and it really is fascinating to hear the famous ballet music in it's original context. A lovely work and a major omission from the Holst discography!

Gosh - this looks very interesting - I will look out for it.

[kyjo]

Aside from "The Planets" (though overplayed, it's undoubtedly his greatest achievement IMO), my favorite Holst works include the ravishing "The Hymn of Jesus", the dynamic suite from "The Perfect Fool", the exotic "Beni Mora" and Japanese Suite, the gorgeous "Invocation" for cello and orchestra, and the jolly "Fugal Overture". "Hammersmith" and "Egdon Heath" and more enigmatic later works but still worth anyone's attention. I wish he would've completed that symphony he was working on at his death...

[vandermolen]

Aside from "The Planets" (though overplayed, it's undoubtedly his greatest achievement IMO), my favorite Holst works include the ravishing "The Hymn of Jesus", the dynamic suite from "The Perfect Fool", the exotic "Beni Mora" and Japanese Suite, the gorgeous "Invocation" for cello and orchestra, and the jolly "Fugal Overture". "Hammersmith" and "Egdon Heath" and more enigmatic later works but still worth anyone's attention. I wish he would've completed that symphony he was working on at his death...

My views are very similar to yours Kyle. In addition I like the Choral Symphony, and The Cloud Messenger, especially for its proto-minimalist section.

[relm1]

My views are very similar to yours Kyle. In addition I like the Choral Symphony, and The Cloud Messenger, especially for its proto-minimalist section.

I agree with you both, kyjo and vandermolen.  Holst had other good works but damn The Planets is a masterpiece.  It is off the charts in quality and originality.  I have performed it (bass trombone) and it was an incredible experience that few works can compare to.  So he isn't a one hit wonder but damn this work is way above everything else he conceived and few other composers in all history accomplished so much in a single work.  If he hadn't composed this work, he would be a good composer but it is this single work that is studied by composers and orchestrators for generations to come.  There are few composers in which the same can be said.  For example, Ravel is studied as a magnificent orchestrator for many of his works but for Holst it is this single work.  I will also add that it is a dream for any composer to be so highly regarded for any single work of theirs so this is not an insult that The Planets is his masterpiece. 

[kyjo]

I agree with you both, kyjo and vandermolen.  Holst had other good works but damn The Planets is a masterpiece.  It is off the charts in quality and originality.  I have performed it (bass trombone) and it was an incredible experience that few works can compare to.  So he isn't a one hit wonder but damn this work is way above everything else he conceived and few other composers in all history accomplished so much in a single work.  If he hadn't composed this work, he would be a good composer but it is this single work that is studied by composers and orchestrators for generations to come.  There are few composers in which the same can be said.  For example, Ravel is studied as a magnificent orchestrator for many of his works but for Holst it is this single work.  I will also add that it is a dream for any composer to be so highly regarded for any single work of theirs so this is not an insult that The Planets is his masterpiece.

I totally agree. Because The Planets is so ubiquitous, it's easy to forget what a remarkably original and powerful work it is. Nice as his other works are, they simply can't compare to it in sheer brilliance of ideas and orchestration, like you say. It sure seems as if Holst poured his entire creative being into this one work. I've also performed it (cello) and it was a great experience as well.

[vandermolen]

How exciting that the two of you performed in The Planets!

[Karl Henning]

Three of us