The Planets

E628560

The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite by Gustav Holst, inspired by the astrological characters of the planets in the solar system and renowned for its vivid, programmatic depiction of each one.

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Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf orchestral suite
programmatic composition
associatedWith Royal Albert Hall (performances) NERFINISHED
catalogueNumber Op. 32
composer Gustav Holst NERFINISHED
composerNationality British
compositionEndYear 1917
compositionStartYear 1914
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom
dedicatedTo Adrian Boult (associated with early performances) NERFINISHED
excludesPlanet Earth NERFINISHED
Pluto NERFINISHED
firstCompletePerformanceYear 1920
firstPerformanceType semi-private
genre orchestral music
suite
hasArrangement piano duet arrangement by Gustav Holst
various concert band arrangements
hasKeyCharacteristic each movement portrays a planet’s astrological character rather than its astronomical properties
hasMovementOrder Mars–Venus–Mercury–Jupiter–Saturn–Uranus–Neptune NERFINISHED
influenceOn film music
science-fiction soundtracks
inspiredBy astrological characters of the planets
astrology
language instrumental (no sung text)
movement Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity NERFINISHED
Mars, the Bringer of War NERFINISHED
Mercury, the Winged Messenger NERFINISHED
Neptune, the Mystic NERFINISHED
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age NERFINISHED
Uranus, the Magician NERFINISHED
Venus, the Bringer of Peace NERFINISHED
notableExcerpt choral melody from Jupiter later adapted as the hymn tune “Thaxted”
notableFeature large orchestra
wordless female chorus in Neptune
notableMovement Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity NERFINISHED
Mars, the Bringer of War NERFINISHED
numberOfMovements 7
orchestrationIncludes expanded brass section
large percussion section
period 20th-century classical music
popularIn concert repertoire worldwide
premiereLocation London NERFINISHED
publisher Boosey & Hawkes (later editions) NERFINISHED
style early modern
late-Romantic
workSubject planets of the Solar System

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Gustav Holst composed The Planets
Dava Sobel notableWork The Planets
Gustav Holst notableWork The Planets