2. Gustav Holst “The Planets” A Suite For Large Orchestra By Eddie McCaffrey

3. “The Planets” By Gustav Holst 1914-1917  DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS  GUSTAV HOLST GUSTAV HOLST GUSTAV HOLST  MARS MARS  VENUS VENUS  MERCURY MERCURY  JUPITER JUPITER  SATURN SATURN  URANUS URANUS  NEPTUNE NEPTUNE Why are there only seven planets represent? Click to see Mr. Wiilliams and the Arcola Planetarium

4. There are only seven planets represent instead of nine because: He was looking up into the sky in the early 1900’s. He wouldn’t see Earth because he is standing on it He was also missing Pluto because it wasn’t discovered until 1930. (“The Planets” was written from 1914-1917)

5. DIRECTIONS You need at least two musical traits of each planet (TEMPO, DYNAMICS, INSTRUMENTS) and at least two other characteristics You need at least two musical traits of each planet (TEMPO, DYNAMICS, INSTRUMENTS) and at least two other characteristics Click on the planet you want to get facts on (click on the composer) Click on the planet you want to get facts on (click on the composer) Each planet has musical facts listed Each planet has musical facts listed Click on the picture of the planet to get physical characteristics Click on the picture of the planet to get physical characteristics Click on the Roman god link to get mythological characteristics Click on the Roman god link to get mythological characteristics Home returns you to the main page Home returns you to the main page Arrows take you back and forth between the planets Arrows take you back and forth between the planets

6. GUSTAV HOLST  Lived from 1874 – 1934  Loved to practice the piano  Practiced so much he developed the disease nervitis in his fingers  He started to read and study the planets and horoscopes  Possibly how he caused dissonance?  Was a pioneer ahead of his time with dissonance in musicdissonance

7. Dissonance  What is Dissonance?  Dissonance is tone clusters  Many notes played together in a cluster instead of a chord  Very different and unusual for the time period  People did not really like the sound of dissonance around the turn of the century  Today we are used to it and it does not sound strange at all

8. MARS Instruments: Instruments: brass (Trumpets) percussion Dynamics: Dynamics: mf < f with accents Tempo: Tempo: medium fast Bringer of War

9. The God of War  Red color made people think of blood  People would decide when to attack by the position of Mars More Info Online

10. VENUS  Instruments: woodwind (oboe) string (harp, string bass) euphonium  Dynamics p < mp (calm)  Tempo slow (legato) Bringer of Peace & Love

11. Goddess of Love  Considered the bringer of Peace and Love  Was the most beautiful thing in the sky More Info Online

12. MERCURY Winged Messenger Winged Messenger Winged MessengerInstruments: woodwinds (oboe) celeste brass (French horn) Dynamics: p p Tempo:fast

13. Winged Messenger  Thought to be delivering messages from one god to the next  Our line of sight makes it look like the planet goes from one planet to the next  Very fast moving planet (closet to the sun) More Info Online

14. JUPITER Bringer of Jollity King of the Gods King of the Gods King of the Gods  Instruments: full orchestra brass (trumpets) string percussion (tambourine)  Dynamics: loud (majestic)  Tempo: medium fast (majestic)

15. King of the Gods  Also considered the Bringer of Jollity  Big people were considered jolly people  Kings were larger people at the time so the biggest planet was considered the king More Info Online

16. SATURN Bringer of Old Age God of Time God of Time God of Time Instruments: Instruments:woodwinds string (string bass, English horn) percussion (chimes) Dynamics: Dynamics: p p p <mf Tempo Tempo very slow

17. God of Time  Also considered the Bringer of Old Age  Very slow planet so it was associated with time  People used to use Saturn as a means of when to plant and harvest the crops More Info Online

18. URANUS The Magician God of the Sky God of the Sky God of the Sky Instruments: Instruments:brass percussion (timpani, xylophone) woodwind (bassoon) Dynamics: Dynamics: changing ( f mp p ) Tempo Tempo changing ( fast slow fast )

19. God of the Sky  Also considered The Magician  The planet is on the edge of human eye sight  It seems to appear and disappear if you stare at it (like a magician makes things appear and disappear) More Info Online

20. NEPTUNE God of the Sea God of the Sea God of the Sea Instrument: Instrument:woodwinds strings (harp) human voices Dynamics: Dynamics: p < mp Tempo: Tempo:slow Acknowledgements

21. God of the Sea  God of anything that has to do with water  Also considered The Mystic  Could help predict the future More Info Online

22. Acknowledgements  Gustav Holst “The Planets”  Recorded by the New York Symphony Orchestra 1987  Thank-you to Mr. Williams for the use of his web site  Joyce Bustard and her knowledge of the Roman Gods