Is Gustav Holst a one hit wonder with THE PLANETS?

[Mirror Image]

I very much agree John - his other work has been overshadowed by the popularity of The Planets. In particular the First Choral Symphony (although there was no second one), The Perfect Fool Ballet Music, Egdon Heath, The Hymn of Jesus, Hammersmith, Beni Mora, Suites for Military Band and The Cloud Messenger etc.

Absolutely! As a fan of Holst's "other" works, I can happily say that these people who only know The Planets are sorely missing out on some amazing works.

[Lisztianwagner]

Maybe The Planets could be considered Holst's masterpiece, but it definitely isn't the only great work he composed: for example, A Somerset Rhapsody, The Golden Goose, Indra, Two Songs without Words, Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Egdon Heath and the St. Paul's Suite are absolutely brilliant, beautiful compositions.
Holst had an amazing ability of orchestration, with bold chords, colourful timbric variations and a fine use of the expressive possibilities of the English folk songs; his music is simple, yet at the same time deep and evocative. It's rather sad that he is mostly remembered just for one of his works, because he was more than that.

[Mirror Image]

Maybe The Planets could be considered Holst's masterpiece, but it definitely isn't the only great work he composed: for example, A Somerset Rhapsody, The Golden Goose, Indra, Two Songs without Words, Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Egdon Heath and the St. Paul's Suite are absolutely brilliant, beautiful compositions.
Holst had an amazing ability of orchestration, with bold chords, colourful timbric variations and a fine use of the expressive possibilities of the English folk songs; his music is simple, yet at the same time deep and evocative. It's rather sad that he is mostly remembered just for one of his works, because he was more than that.

I quite agree, Ilaria. All of those works you mentioned are gorgeous.

[vandermolen]

Maybe The Planets could be considered Holst's masterpiece, but it definitely isn't the only great work he composed: for example, A Somerset Rhapsody, The Golden Goose, Indra, Two Songs without Words, Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Egdon Heath and the St. Paul's Suite are absolutely brilliant, beautiful compositions.
Holst had an amazing ability of orchestration, with bold chords, colourful timbric variations and a fine use of the expressive possibilities of the English folk songs; his music is simple, yet at the same time deep and evocative. It's rather sad that he is mostly remembered just for one of his works, because he was more than that.

+1

[Karl Henning]

Copied over from VW thread:
I just listened to a fascinating piece of archive material which was broadcast during the interval of the concert in Manchester last night (21/04). It features Vaughan Williams, in his characteristic upper class accent talking about Gustav Holst and (after Holst's 'Moorside Suite') the composer Herbert Howells talking about Holst. At one time Holst, VW and Howells taught at St Paul's Girl's School in Hammersmith, London. Towards the end of his life Holst turned up unexpectedly one Saturday night, at Howells's front door seemingly very ill. Howells invited Holst to join him and his wife for supper but Holst refused and said that he'd go up to Howells's study to look at manuscripts. By chance there was a Prom being broadcast that night featuring 'The Planets'. Howells invited Holst to come downstairs to listen to the broadcast of 'The Planets' but Holst said that he did not want to hear it! However he eventually came down to listen and when the audience spontaneously started singing the big tune in the middle of 'Jupiter' ('I Vow to thee My Country') Howells noticed that tears were streaming down Holst's face. At the end Holst left them saying that he didn't suppose that they would see him much more and he died shortly afterwards. The extract is after the broadcast of Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 9, about 37 minutes into the broadcast and the Howells reminiscences are played after Holst's 'Moorside Suite':
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00169jf

Beautiful and poignant.

[aukhawk]

I listened to RVW's A Sea Symphony yesterday - recorded by Slatkin / Philharmonia - and was struck by a passage very near the end which had much similarity (in Slatkin's expansive reading) to Holst's Neptune - the gently rocking orchestra, the muted chorus murmuring a suspended chord.  Sea Symphony, 1909 - Planets, 1917.   Both pieces of music attempt to depict, I suppose, allusions to 'the sea', 'outer space', and 'metaphysics'. 
Neptune the sea god, the planet, the mystic. 
In the Sea Symphony it's more explicit, in Whitman's words - "Greater than stars or suns, Bounding O soul thou journeyest forth" etc etc.

[André]

I listened to RVW's A Sea Symphony yesterday - recorded by Slatkin / Philharmonia - and was struck by a passage very near the end which had much similarity (in Slatkin's expansive reading) to Holst's Neptune - the gently rocking orchestra, the muted chorus murmuring a suspended chord.  Sea Symphony, 1909 - Planets, 1917.   Both pieces of music attempt to depict, I suppose, allusions to 'the sea', 'outer space', and 'metaphysics'. 
Neptune the sea god, the planet, the mystic. 
In the Sea Symphony it's more explicit, in Whitman's words - "Greater than stars or suns, Bounding O soul thou journeyest forth" etc etc.

The Sea Symphony is one of those very rare vocal works where I relish the text almost as much as the music. The passage you mention has a lambent, levitating quality where VW's music perfectly echoes Whitman's poetry.

[steve ridgway]

Yes. I conducted unbiased research on Discogs and found no results for Holst Greatest Hits. Other composers have fared better.

[Carshot]

Browsing in a railway station newsagents today I found this:

https://www.classical-music.com/magazine/issues/september-2024

Lots of interesting articles and I look forward to reading it (& listening to the CD of course!)

[Luke]

I listened to RVW's A Sea Symphony yesterday - recorded by Slatkin / Philharmonia - and was struck by a passage very near the end which had much similarity (in Slatkin's expansive reading) to Holst's Neptune - the gently rocking orchestra, the muted chorus murmuring a suspended chord.  Sea Symphony, 1909 - Planets, 1917.   Both pieces of music attempt to depict, I suppose, allusions to 'the sea', 'outer space', and 'metaphysics'. 
Neptune the sea god, the planet, the mystic. 
In the Sea Symphony it's more explicit, in Whitman's words - "Greater than stars or suns, Bounding O soul thou journeyest forth" etc etc.

I realise I'm quoting a two-year old post - but that passage at the end of the Sea Symphony always reminds me of the end of Part 1 of Gerontius (same key, too) as the soul 'farther sails' too - the two passages are very similar. The most similar passage I can think of in The Planets comes at the end of Venus as the two chords repeat and sway 

[André]

These two passages (Gerontius and the Sea symphony) are magnificently otherworldly. In Gerontius, it's the leap of faith in the Great Unknown, in Sea Symphony it's the Great Unknown beyond the ocean.

[steve ridgway]

As this contains both Mars and Jupiter Holst has to be recognised as a two hit wonder .

[Roasted Swan]

Just been listening to this month's BBC Music Magazine cover disc;



A very good compilation of mainly live BBC recordings from recent years.  Interesting because it shows Holst moving away from his early Wagner-influenced works (Indra etc) via the visionary Mystic Trumpeter to immersion in folksong - Somerset Rhapsody - to his mature/individual voice - Perfect Fool etc.  The Japanese Suite is an attractive rarity too - I know 3 other recordings (Boult/Faletta/Bostock) but always glad to hear another version.

A bit of a shock to realise that in this Holst's 150th anniversary year there has yet to be a significant release featuring his music exclusively.  He has appeared on some recital/compilation discs and of course the ubiquitous Planets - mainly re-releases of older versions but nothing "new" at all as far as I can tell.  I suppose the truth is the main labels who might - Hyperion/Chandos have done what they want already of his, Naxos have moved on from their "British Music Series" - CPO/Capriccio don't do this kind of repertoire so not sure who is left.  Dutton might I suppose but their release schedule is a thing of mystery!  Certainly Universal in its various label guises won't be doing anything unless one of their celebrity artists suddenly engages with Holst but I doubt they will......

[Symphonic Addict]

The wonder that catapulted him to fame shook me in a live concert that words fail to express. Great, stunning, marvelous piece, played with gusto and enthusiasm.

Mars was apocalyptic, ferocious, demonic. The climax when the tam-tam entered properly (after being played softly) was simply out of this world, that instrument sounded super loud!!! The decibels at that point were in their highest. That was a truly belligerent Mars as a whole! Venus was quite crystalline, delicate, rather moving in its sheer beauty. I was totally taken by it. Mercury flowed graciously, swiftly and sweetly. Jupiter was radiant, glorious, elevated. Saturn, with its clock-like vibe, was another one that impacted me quite a bit; I almost tear a drop because of its pure and consoling ending which somehow reminded me of Sibelius a little. Uranus made me dance in my seat! What a ridiculously fun movement it is. I loved the brass and the percussion there the most. The malice contained in that movement was vividly felt and delivered by the orchestra. Just wow. Finally, Neptune didn't disappoint either. It was really mystical, absorbing and ethereal. The Planets is a sovereign masterpiece regardless of what some listeners say about it and I have to say it's my favorite work by Holst hands down even if there are other greater works. No other piece of his can compare in terms of genuine inspiration.

Seeing this work performed gives you a different and enlightening perspective about what is going on, the effects, the players getting the sonorities out of the instruments, the pulsating energy and the otherworldly atmosphere, etc. I think The Planets embraces practically all what one wants to hear from a big work: memorable melodic material, imaginative writing, rhythmic and harmonic wealth, scintillating orchestration, a gamut of emotions and magic that sort of cover the whole spectrum. It feels complete to me, honestly, and I LOVE it more than ever.

Of the several concerts I've been able to attend, I seriously consider that performance one of the most extraordinary experiences I've ever lived in the concert hall, so Mr. Holst: thanks a lot for your masterpiece, despite you didn't consider it one of your best works and because it partly overshadowed the rest of your output. People love it to the core and with good reason!

[Roasted Swan]

The wonder that catapulted him to fame shook me in a live concert that words fail to express. Great, stunning, marvelous piece, played with gusto and enthusiasm.

Mars was apocalyptic, ferocious, demonic. The climax when the tam-tam entered properly (after being played softly) was simply out of this world, that instrument sounded super loud!!! The decibels at that point were in their highest. That was a truly belligerent Mars as a whole! Venus was quite crystalline, delicate, rather moving in its sheer beauty. I was totally taken by it. Mercury flowed graciously, swiftly and sweetly. Jupiter was radiant, glorious, elevated. Saturn, with its clock-like vibe, was another one that impacted me quite a bit; I almost tear a drop because of its pure and consoling ending which somehow reminded me of Sibelius a little. Uranus made me dance in my seat! What a ridiculously fun movement it is. I loved the brass and the percussion there the most. The malice contained in that movement was vividly felt and delivered by the orchestra. Just wow. Finally, Neptune didn't disappoint either. It was really mystical, absorbing and ethereal. The Planets is a sovereign masterpiece regardless of what some listeners say about it and I have to say it's my favorite work by Holst hands down even if there are other greater works. No other piece of his can compare in terms of genuine inspiration.

Seeing this work performed gives you a different and enlightening perspective about what is going on, the effects, the players getting the sonorities out of the instruments, the pulsating energy and the otherworldly atmosphere, etc. I think The Planets embraces practically all what one wants to hear from a big work: memorable melodic material, imaginative writing, rhythmic and harmonic wealth, scintillating orchestration, a gamut of emotions and magic that sort of cover the whole spectrum. It feels complete to me, honestly, and I LOVE it more than ever.

Of the several concerts I've been able to attend, I seriously consider that performance one of the most extraordinary experiences I've ever lived in the concert hall, so Mr. Holst: thanks a lot for your masterpiece, despite you didn't consider it one of your best works and because it partly overshadowed the rest of your output. People love it to the core and with good reason!

Great review - but which orchestra/conductor and where!?

[Symphonic Addict]

Great review - but which orchestra/conductor and where!?

My local orchestra, an invited conductor whose name I don't remember right now. Last Saturday. I'm still feeling the sheer thrill of that concert. I urge everyone who is fond of orchestral music to hear this work live at least once if they can. You will not regret!