The Planets by Gustav Holst

[noby]

I'm curious as to how many folks here are fans of this suite.

I love it. I think it is a fantastic evocation of the planets and their archetypal qualities. It has helped me better understand astrology, the planets, and archetypes in general. So much of my study of archetypes and energies is conducted using a verbal or visual format to present the initial information, and there's something about music that reaches a different place.

My favorite piece within the suite is "Neptune, the Mystic," but I like them all.

[noby]

Though it does seem that "Jupiter" goes on and on... Fitting, I suppose, as rattling on in such a manner is a Sagittarian trait!

[noby]

I like how after a lot of gloom and bluster, "Saturn" ends with gentle waves of transcendent beauty that have a sense of the eternal to them... Expressing that emotion of the bittersweet mingling of sadness and joy, which arises within the recognition that what makes things beautiful is how they are fleeting, subject to decay and death... What Japanese folk call 'mono no aware.' (Definitions/discussions of this expression can be found here, here, and here.)

[ocho8s]

Noby
I attended during the summer a workshop about "Fonoterapia", which is how to use sounds as part of therapy, and we discuss Holst, it was great because after some physical exercises we would lay down on the floor with lights off and we would listen to one of the pieces and then we would talk about the emotion felt while listening and it was amazing to hear how we all felt in different degrees the same emotions.
I like them all specially the mars song............. maybe because I am a Scorpio after all!!!
I do have his cd and listen to all of them depending on my mood.

Anaoly
from sunny Mexico

[wizzle]

I love The Planets and agree that Holst got them very right. I've very fond of Mars, Bringer of War. This is wonderfully independent, martial and LOUD music. Mars is, among other things, loud.

I think the 1812 Overture is pretty good for Mars too, especially when it's done outdoors with fireworks (ruled by Mars). I think Mars is underappreciated as a planet. Yes, he's the villan in a lot of plots, but what would we do without a good villan? Imagine Star Wars without Darth Vadar. Hey, March of the Empire is pretty Mars too.

[isthmus nekoi]

Definetely enjoyable and accessable - although I find it funny that it was written before Pluto was discovered (?) so there isn't a song for him!

Certainly a great introduction to both astro and classical music!

[darwinia]

I also think Ken Russel's film of the suite did it great justice too. Very evocative, particularly, Mars, Venus and Jupiter.

I know Mars is "The Bringer of War" but it never hit me quite like that until I saw this film. I would love to have a DVD of it.

[darwinia]

Someone PMd me about this, so I will copy the information here if anyone else is interested.

The Planets was made into a film in 1983 by British director Ken Russell for television.

Here is the information:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086116/

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1030140/

Amazon.com lists a video called Classic Visions 6 : The Planets by Ken Russell from 1992 which looks like a re-release of the film. I couldn't find a DVD but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

[annik]

Yeah, it is great to have music with the planets as centerstage. I should listen the cd more often. I remember seeing an ice skate show on tv with that music. I only saw a bit of Mars.