The Planets, Op. 32 by Gustav Holst
Conductor: Gemma New
Georgia State University Women's Chorus
University of Georgia Women's Glee Club

As an ardent observer of astrology and horoscopes, Gustav Holst composed The Planets between 1914 and 1916 as a series of "mood pieces" to reflect each planet's personality traits based on their astrological qualities. The arrangement of movements is to reflect the houses of the zodiac as opposed to their distance from the sun.

I. Mars, the Bringer of War (00:23)
Characterized by aggression and anger, the second-smallest planet takes its name from the Roman God of War. Mars represents primal energy and a desire to dominate. According to Boult, Mars was the composer’s commentary on the “stupidity of war.”

II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace (07:52)
Due to a runaway greenhouse effect, Venus is the warmest planet, with a surface temperature of around 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Named for the Roman goddess of love, Venus radiates love, beauty and harmony.

III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger (16:02)
Closest to the sun, Mercury speeds through the solar system, making four trips around the sun for every Earth year. Associated with information, Mercury takes its name from the deity who served as the messenger to the gods. In Holst’s score, the orchestra’s nervous energy and virtuosic flights of fancy point to the mercurial nature of Mercury.

IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (20:17)
A gas giant named for the king of the gods, the largest planet represents optimism, prosperity and generosity. Sometimes called Jove, the planet Jupiter represents a jolly or jovial atmosphere. Later, Holst combined a theme from this movement with a poem by Sir Cecil Spring Rice to compose the patriotic hymn “I Vow to Thee, My Country.”

V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age (28:27)
The most distant planet visible to the naked eye, the ringed giant was thought outermost by the ancients. Astrologers associate Saturn with limitations, illness, depression and restrictions.

VI. Uranus, the Magician (37:22)
Orbiting the sun on its side, one season on Uranus lasts 21 earth years. Ironically, its astrological profile is associated with change, upheaval, innovation and discovery. Uranus rules outer space and the higher mind.

VII. Neptune, the Mystic (43:02)
Invisible to the naked eye, Neptune remained hidden until a French astronomer used mathematics to explain its gravitational pull on Uranus. Astronomers later confirmed Neptune’s existence with the use of a telescope. Neptune takes 165 Earth years—two human lifetimes—to complete its orbit around the sun and is associated with things unseen—intuition, dreams and the subconscious. Holst adds an off-stage women’s chorus at the end of this movement, amplifying its air of mystery.