Old Composer Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Just kidding. Really, I'm wondering, what is your favorite movement of Gustav Holst's "The Planets"? I personally enjoy most of the movements, but I really like Uranus - it's got a very eerie quality about it. As far as compositional integrity, I think Jupiter is pretty strong, formally. I understand that "The Planets" may not be the most complicated stuff, but I do enjoy it quite a bit. EDIT - Just to clarify, this used to be called 'Tonality' because I made it right about the time that there were several somewhat heated topics discussing tonailty, relevance, etc. I did it goofing, and I feel that the effect has probably worn off by now. Hence, the updated title. Quote
jcharney Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Oh gosh. For me it's probably Venus in terms of emotional effect and complete beauty, Mercury in sheer programmaticity (I don't think that's a word haha) and orchestration, and Jupiter in catchiness and melody/harmony. I love all the planets though. Quote
Berlioz Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Just kidding. Really, I'm wondering, what is your favorite movement of Gustav Holst's "The Planets"? I personally enjoy most of the movements, but I really like Uranus - it's got a very eerie quality about it. As far as compositional integrity, I think Jupiter is pretty strong, formally. I understand that "The Planets" may not be the most complicated stuff, but I do enjoy it quite a bit. Isn't Neptune the eerie one? Uranus is just completely insane. ... That last phrase could be interpreted in bizarre ways. Quote
Qmwne235 Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 :laugh: My favorites are Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn. And Venus. And Mars, and Jupiter. Oh, and let's just throw in Mercury for good measure. Quote
Flint Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Neptune, then Saturn. Bass oboe parts for teh win! Quote
Berlioz Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 Oh, I forgot, my favourites are Uranus and Neptune. Quote
Old Composer Posted January 5, 2009 Author Posted January 5, 2009 Isn't Neptune the eerie one? Uranus is just completely insane. That last phrase could be interpreted in bizarre ways. Yeah. So guys I have a confession. I never actually learned the order of the planets. I just know that I like the last one in "The Planets" which is definitely not Uranus, apparently. My bad. Shamed. Quote
jujimufu Posted January 5, 2009 Posted January 5, 2009 I was about to say.. :P Neptune and Mars, and Saturn. scallop. Quote
J. Lee Graham Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Mars, without a doubt. I've never heard a more bone-chilling musical depiction of modern mechanised warfare in my life. Probably no coincidence that it was written during World War I. Quote
Alexander Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I like all of them, but I prefer the outer planets. My favourite moment is the explosive chord from Mars, before the calm section with the snare drum. Alexandros Quote
J. Lee Graham Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 My favourite moment is the explosive chord from Mars, before the calm section with the snare drum. I love that too...but I usually hear that quieter middle section as menacing, rather than calm. :P My favourite moment is the last few measures of Mars with that series of anguished, crushing, marvelously dissonant chords. The first time I heard that, I almost soiled myself. Quote
Tokkemon Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I love that too...but I usually hear that quieter middle section as menacing, rather than calm. :P My favourite moment is the last few measures of Mars with that series of anguished, crushing, marvelously dissonant chords. The first time I heard that, I almost soiled myself. Better than the stuff in Rite of Spring IMO. You can just picture the distruction! :D Quote
Nirvana69 Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Better than the stuff in Rite of Spring IMO. You can just picture the distruction! :D Nothing is better than Rite of Spring! NOTHING!!!! :angry: Quote
Tokkemon Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Nothing is better than Rite of Spring! NOTHING!!!! :angry: Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Tchaikovsky! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Beethoven! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Handel! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! Mahler! etc. Quote
oboeducky Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Jupiter. Jolly hymns FTW! CANTINA BAND! Quote
jcharney Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Mars, without a doubt. I've never heard a more bone-chilling musical depiction of modern mechanised warfare in my life. Probably no coincidence that it was written during World War I. And before Holst had ever seen a machine gun, even! Quote
J. Lee Graham Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 Mars is such a butch movement, too. Get's me twitchin'. Quote
Alexander Posted January 6, 2009 Posted January 6, 2009 I love that too...but I usually hear that quieter middle section as menacing, rather than calm. You are right! A very crude description from my part... :blush: Alexandros Quote
kpisney Posted January 8, 2009 Posted January 8, 2009 I very much so like the Mars movement the best because of the intensity that it gives off, radiating much like a fire and I simply melt at the fanfarish part that the brass have after a long and endless string movement. Jupiter for it's Obvious Reasons (just being awesome for almost everything about it, it is VERY catchy) and finally for the original planets Uranus because I like right at the beginning of the piece (right from the get go) there's an interesting accelerando effect and the after effect that sends chills down my spine. It's like the magician actually casting some sort of arcane art and the menacing effects are being conveyed upon everything in it's path. I know it technically wasn't an original planet from Gustav but I do like the new Pluto that the "gustav specialist" wrote. Since it wasn't originally a part of The Planets I might have a wierd recording but I do like the way they introduce the synthesized-character that leads to a bunch of major chords of the work (not major in theory since) Quote
almacg Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 I know it technically wasn't an original planet from Gustav but I do like the new Pluto that the "gustav specialist" wrote. Since it wasn't originally a part of The Planets I might have a wierd recording but I do like the way they introduce the synthesized-character that leads to a bunch of major chords of the work (not major in theory since) It doesn't get performed anymore because Pluto is no longer classed as a real planet! My favourite is Mars, (which is possibly my favourite piece of all time) followed by Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and last of all Neptune. Quote
Gavin Gorrick Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 My favorite movement of The Planets is Saturn, bar none Quote
almacg Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 My favorite movement of The Planets is Saturn, bar none Whoops I forgot about that ol' chesnut.. Ok my list is now : Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Neptune. Saturn is an amazing piece, they all are however...! Quote
Qmwne235 Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 My list is the opposite of almacg's, except with Saturn and Mercury switched. :D Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.