Good Example Of Gustav Holst The Planets Essay

Perhaps one of the greatest works in the entire orchestral and symphonic canon, Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets has stood the test of time. Holst’s mind was austere and disciplined when The Planets was composed, it is a work of the period especially by using an enormous orchestra to depict Neptune and the mystical disappearing female chorus creating a background of astrology and perhaps theosophy. ‘The Planets’ can also be compared to Rimsky Korsakov and Dukas whilst Lehar also makes a fleeting appearance. Holst was a composer who recognized that impressions have to be filtered and analysed, structured and fitted into unique contexts, that there is no holiday in one place without war in another. Interestingly, one of the persons who was involved in the creation of the first recording of ‘The Planets’ was the English composer, Henry Balfour Gardiner who was in effect the father of the famous conductor John Eliot Gardiner.
The version that I listed to here was one for a series of pianos under the direction of Jennifer Height Bemis. Each of the symphonic movements was accorded two pianists, so the University of South Alabama hall was treated to a wide variety of talent in more ways than one. Tracy Mank and Christopher Marzullo played ‘Mars the Bringer of War with consummate artistry, bringing out the motor rhythms and martial inflexions of the piece in a very direct way. Jennifer Hight-Bemis directed both pianists with aplomb, and the whole performance was really quite excellent.
‘Venus the Bringer of Peace’ is a much quieter work but this did not deter Wei-Min Patrick and Joshua Vaughan from coming up with quite a beautiful interpretation. The level of interaction between both pianists was simply superb, and they showed class and conviction as they played.
Mercury, The Winged Messenger is another work that is fleet of foot, and it is excellently suited to the piano. Megan Squier and Shawn Wright are quite different in their style of playing, but they certainly brought out much of the character and charm of the piece. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity is perhaps one of the most remarkable of the symphonic movements and our piano duo in the shape of Wright and Elizabeth Benis certainly did not disappoint. The big central theme was suitably informed with pompous grandeur the order of the day.
The final three movements of the work are perhaps not that well known since they are mostly pensive and brooding. ‘Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age’ was informed with quite a mystic grandeur by Vaughn and Marzullo who brought out the moribund sequences with characteristic panache. Vaughn returned together with Tracy Mank for ‘Uranus the Magician’, another very difficult work to bring off, but this came out very well indeed. ‘Neptune, the Mystic’ is another profound piece of expressionism that requires a certain sense of maturity to bring off. Squier and Bernis certainly did not disappoint with the final parts of the work creating a sense of almost hallowed silence in the Ladlaw Performing Arts Centre. The concert was a tribute to the work of Jennifer Hight-Bemis as director of these stunningly talented pianists and pupils. I was truly bowled over by the whole experience and went back to my quarters with a sense of elation at having listened to such a fantastic and original concert.