Out of This World

The cooler air and darker skies of fall evenings whisper a special kind of magic. Mysticism fueled Holst’s creativity in his musical characterization of each planet. Will your rising sign affect your perception of Holst’s celestial movements? Come find out with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, November 7–9.

Gustav Holst’s ethereal The Planets has captivated audiences for more than a century with its vivid orchestral colors and profound sense of grandeur. The seven-movement work takes listeners on a celestial odyssey that explores the nature of unique astrological and Roman mythological figures associated with each of the planets in our solar system—excluding Earth and with Pluto yet to be discovered at the time.

The origins of The Planets are as fascinating as the work itself. It was the year 1913, and the then 39-year-old Holst was traveling for a holiday in Mallorca, Spain with friends and fellow composers Balfour Gardiner and Arnold Bax, and Arnold’s brother, the poet Clifford Bax.What originated as leisure soon transformed into a time of great creative inspiration for the ever-intellectual Holst: “We occupied the four corners of a carriage,” Clifford wrote later,“and while Gardiner was mastering the enigmas of a Spanish timetable, and my brother remembering all the necessary objects that he had forgotten to pack, Holst informed me that he had just become interested in astrology, and on such a congenial topic I discoursed at length.”

Following the trip and for the rest of his life, Holst remained enthusiastic in his exploration of mysticism, eagerly studying the work of prominent astrologer Alan Leo. It is widely accepted that Leo’s book What is a Horoscope and How is it Cast? was a probable influence on Holst as he composed The Planets.

Each of the seven movements expresses a mood suggested by the astrological sign associated with its particular planet, with the diverse “personalities” manifested through various orchestral techniques. The suite runs an evocative gamut from lively, brash, and rhythmic scherzando movements to quiet meditations of a remote, timeless nature. “Mars,the Bringer of War” is soothed by “Venus, the Bringer of Peace;” animated “Mercury, the Winged Messenger” develops into the decadence of English-folk inspired “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity;” “Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age” creates a somber, contemplative mood that gives way to transfiguration, lightened by the eccentric and brass-heavy “Uranus, the Magician.” The final movement, “Neptune, the Mystic,” drifts in from silence to create a shapeless, otherworldly aura in which the orchestra, playing hushed, reverent sonorities, is joined in the final passage by a wordless chorus of women’s voices. As their haunting,unresolved refrain fades, audiences are left floating in a vast cosmic oblivion, inviting curiosity and introspection—a transcendental moment worth experiencing.

The Planets in Pop Culture

Classical music has a way of upping the emotional intensity of films, television, and games. If you've had a "this sounds familiar" moment, watching or gaming one of the following, we can put that nagging feeling to rest: it started with Holst.

• BoJack Horseman episode "That’s Too Much, Man!" features an extract from Venus near the end of the episode.[39]
• The Man Who Fell to Earth features excerpts of Venus and Mars.[40]
• The Simpsons episode "'Scuse Me While I Miss the Sky" features extracts of the beginning of Jupiter due to astronomy being the main subject of the episode.[41]
• The Simpsons episode "The Regina Monologues" features an extract from Mars in a flashback scene to World War II.[41]
• Mr. Robot features Neptune in the pre-credits sequence of season 2 episode 4.[42]
• The Venture Bros. Season 2 Episode 2 "Hate Floats" features Henchmen 21 and 24 comedically singing the opening of Mars as they gear up to prepare to return to their duties as henchmen.[43]
• An arrangement of a small excerpt of Jupiter appears in the game Persona 3 Portable under the filename "EVE_511".[44] However, it was not released as part of the official soundtrack.[45]
• Bluey episode Sleepytime[46] quotes Jupiter extensively during a dream sequence set among the planets.[47]
• Space: 1999 episode "Space Brain" features most of Mars (composer uncredited) near the end of the episode.[48]
• Hunter x Hunter Episode 41 features an eerie arrangement of Jupiter for Bonolenov Ndongo attack named "Jupiter"