Ann Arbor Concert Band presents Gustav Holst’s The Planets

The Ann Arbor Concert Band presents Gustav Holst’s epic composition The Planets, Opus 32, a seven-movement suite. Each movement is named after a planet of the Solar System and its supposed astrological character. “The Planets” was composed over nearly three years, between 1914 and 1917. The work had its origins in March and April 1913, while Holst holidayed in Spain. A discussion about astrology piqued Holst’s interest. Shortly after the holiday Holst wrote: “I only study things that suggest music to me. Recently the character of each planet suggested lots to me, and I have been studying astrology fairly closely”. Holst described The Planets as “a series of mood pictures”, acting as “foils to one another”, with “very little contrast in any one of them”. But although astrology was Holst’s starting point, he arranged the planets to suit his own plan. The order of the movements is not the same as that of the planets’ orbits round the sun. Holst’s only criterion was that of maximum musical effectiveness. Opening with the more disturbing character of Mars allows a more dramatic and compelling working out of the musical material. The Ann Arbor Concert Band is proud to present Gustav Holst’s The Planets Suite, featuring Singers from the Ann Arbor Civic Chorus.