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Holst: The Planets

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description Holst: The Planets Overview

Gustav Holst's The Planets, Op. 32, is an orchestral suite in seven movements composed between 1914 and 1916. Each movement presents the astrological character associated with a planet, beginning with Mars and ending with Neptune; Earth and Pluto are not included. The score uses a large orchestra, and Neptune concludes with a wordless women's chorus that gradually recedes from the music.

help Holst: The Planets FAQ

Which planets appear in Holst's The Planets?

The seven movements depict Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune in that order. The suite does not include Earth or Pluto.

Why is Earth missing from Holst's The Planets?

Holst based the movements on astrological characters rather than creating a complete astronomical survey. Pluto had not yet been discovered when he composed the suite between 1914 and 1916, and Earth was outside his chosen concept.

What is the connection between Jupiter and the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country?

The broad central melody in Jupiter was later adapted by Cecil Spring-Rice for the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country. The hymn version became associated with the tune called Thaxted, after the Essex village.

What happens at the end of Neptune in The Planets?

Neptune ends with wordless women's choruses that sing from offstage or from a concealed space. The music gradually fades into silence, creating one of the most unusual endings in the orchestral repertoire.

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