Holst: The Planets
List Price:
Our Price: $3.47
You Save: $4.51 (57%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.18 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Brand: HOLST,G.Composer: Gustav Holst
Composer: John [Film Composer] Williams
Conductor: Zubin Mehta
Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2001-04-10
Music Label: Decca
Product features:
- MEHTA ZUBIN / LOS ANGELES P. O. HOLST: THE PLANETS / WILLIAMS J.: STARS
- The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War
- The Planets: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
- The Planets: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
- The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
- The Planets: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
- The Planets: Uranus, The Magician
- The Planets: Neptune, The Mystic
- Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Suite
- Star Wars: Main Title
Music reviews of Holst: The Planets
Music Review: Neptune the Mystic
Rating: 5 Stars
For aspiring composers all over the world that wanted to know the proper way to score action, comedy, wonder, and romance, they'd need not look any further than Holst's symphony for the planets. Pretty much almost every composer scoring films today draws some influence from his magnificent suites and for good reason, this is highly impressive work.
"Mars, the bringer of War" starts the suite with it's infamous 5/4 rhythm which is quiet at first then quickly builds into sheer orchestral power which is more than appropriate since it is for a god of war, but despite it's power being generated primarily by brass and percussion Holst still finds time to squeeze in woodwinds and give them interesting things to play. They're not just there for flavor or color but to add depth to this intense piece of music. The orchestration on this one is indeed something else as one second you'll be listening to the orchestra pounding in your ear then moments after it goes all quite and you hear low winds and strings playing the main melody in a creepy way. A very powerful and bombastic suite.
"Venus, the bringer of Peace" lives up to it's name by being one of the quieter suites on the album. If "Mars" is a bible for amazing action writing then "Venus" would be a bible for dramatic scenes. There is a peace and gentleness that Holst evokes throughout the piece either with the celli or the oboes that just makes your heart ache. It's truly beautiful and inspired writing. The solo violin also gets a chance to shine on the album playing a very sympathetic tune. I like to picture kids playing and adults relaxing by the beach as I listen to this. A very nice calming suite to relax to after the orchestral assault that is "Mars".
"Mercury, the Winged Messenger" is probably the most comical of bunch and starts with the woodwinds and pizzicato and bowed strings flying all around to create an amazing sense of light hearted fun. Almost like music to a little butterfly flying around. The whole piece is a light and bouncy one with a quick tempo that is appropriate for picturing Mercury flying around the stars or dancing around like a ballerina. A very fun suite
"Jupiter, the bringer of Jollity" has my favorite opening moments the whole suite. Whiles "Neptune" is my overall favorite I do love the choppy strings and winds that open "Jupiter". It's a piece meant to be jolly like the name implies and it delivers in full abundance. The jolly treatment soon fades away to give way for the celli and horns to play what is quite simply one of the finest pieces of calming music I've ever heard. Don't know what made Holst change from the jolly music to the dramatic one halfway through but it is very beautiful to listen to. The jollity does come back again before the suite ends and makes for the most light hearted one of the suites as well as one of the most touching.
"Saturn, the bringer of Old Age" is reported to have been Holst's favorite of the Planet suites. It's a more mature and gentle that gets angry and starts yelling with the brass halfway through only to be quited again. Of all the pieces this was one I wish I could have had insight from Holst as to his thought process on this unique suite that he loved so much. The most somber of the suites.
"Uranus, the Magician" begins with a loud dramatic brass motif followed by some intense timpani hits which then disappears as this almost comical melody for the magician begins. It's certainly a very energetic suite that maintains very busy and very fun to listen to. It ends with the brass motif being stated again only to quietly fade away into the dark. The weirdest of the suites.
"Neptune, the Mystic" is my personal favorite of all the suites. A mysterious piece that creates a sense of wonder and awe. The first few bars just capture the imagination and that feeling of wonderment is never let go throughout the whole suite. There is a fluid and very natural element to the suite that I really love and when the female choir joins it just makes for an amazing listening experience. The choir almost sounds alien, like a theremin infact which shows what a great mind Holst was. A really great suite and a great way to end a magnificent tribute to the planets.
I hope to someday catch an orchestra playing this symphony live so I can hear it person. A CD is great and all but nothing beats the real thing.
An astounding symphony of what the orchestra is capable of doing and showcasing the diverse and creative mind that belonged to the great Gustav Holst
HIGHEST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Description of Holst: The Planets
MEHTA ZUBIN / LOS ANGELES P. O. HOLST: THE PLANETS / WILLIAMS J.: STARSClassical CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.91
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald MountainRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops:
Vivaldi: The Four SeasonsRelease date: 1994-02-08; Music CD
Best price: $2.10
Price in other shops:
Holst: Suite No.1 & 2 / Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks / Bach: Fantasia in GRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.02
Price in other shops:
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain and Other Russian ShowpiecesRelease date: 1994-03-15; Music CD
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Copland: Appalachian Spring/ Fanfare For The Common Man/ El Salón México/ Danzón CubanoRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.93
Price in other shops:
Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PORelease date: 1997-10-28; Music CD
Best price: $7.10
Price in other shops:
Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite/ Mississippi SuiteRelease date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.59
Price in other shops:
The Planets in Full Score (Dover Music Scores)by Gustav Holst, Music Scores
Alfred Publishing; Dover Publications; Published: 1997-01-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.48
Price in other shops:
Holst: The PlanetsRelease date: 2007-06-12; Music CD
Best price: $6.62
Price in other shops:
Holst: The PlanetsRelease date: 2007-07-10; Published: 2007; Music CD
Best price: $7.65
Price in other shops: