I had to do some sleuthing to track down the details of the event I’m celebrating today. Although it was mentioned in a couple of sources, other sources seemed to contradict the information. However, we can justifiably celebrate this anniversary today without fear of error.
On February 27, 1919, Sir Adrian Boult conducted the first public performance of Gustav Holst’s symphonic suite The Planets although in that concert the work was not heard in its entirety. An earlier two-piano version of the work had been performed some time before that, and Boult also conducted a private unveiling of the orchestral version in 1918. The first public performance of the full work was in 1920. See why I had to check my facts?
The Planets is an ode to the mysteries of outer space, the music by turns martial, playful, tender, majestic, or oddly ethereal. A site devoted to Gustav Holst suggests that the work was at least somewhat the product of a mid-life crisis, and was influenced by Holst’s fascination with theosophy, a mystic view of ‘divine wisdom,’ and astrology, the study of how the alignment of stars and planets affects people’s lives.
The full work includes segments that pay tribute to the seven planets that were known and acknowledged at the time Holst wrote the suite, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, which gave three performances of The Planets this January, offers excellent program notes to enhance one’s understanding of the somewhat unusual music. A blog titled The Classical Reviewer gave me information (as it will you) on the early performances of the work.
I have a personal connection to this work, as well. In early 1984 or 85 — my memory is a little hazy as to the date — I sang as part of a group of sixteen women hand-picked by Winnipeg musician Winnifred Sim, in the eerily mystical choral song that is an element of the Neptune segment of The Planets, as part of a performance of the entire suite by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Kazuhiro Koizumi. It was an honor to be chosen to sing in this performance, a privilege that I will be grateful for throughout the rest of my life.
We sang backstage. Closed circuit television allowed Winnifred to see the maestro and to direct our singing in time with the orchestra. Since there are no words, and the melodies and countermelodies are interwoven through the orchestral part rather than being accompanied by the orchestra as one usually expects of a chorus/symphony melding, this was no mean feat.
There’s no recording of the performance I was a part of, but I would encourage you to find a recording of the entire suite and listen to it — and pay particular attention to the female choir in the last movement. Imagine I’m one of the second altos (despite being a mezzo soprano, my range is such that I am sometimes asked to sing alto).
This day in the arts certainly brings back memories of one of my stellar turns on this planet!
I’ll have to check this out. Your description of the music’s unusual-ness is rather intriguing.
Thanks, Angela. I hope you will check it out!
I had to ask what pitches “mezzo soprano” and “alto” were. When I grow up, I probably will sing Baritone or Bass. I will ask my Mom to show me that video with you in it!
I should have explained the pitches, Erik. And from hearing your speaking voice, yes, I’d think you’ll be a Baritone or Bass when you grow up.
Sorry to mislead you — I’ve changed the wording of my blog post to clarify. There isn’t a video with me in it, unfortunately. I was just suggesting people listen to a recording of the music and *pretend* I was in it. Sorry!
OK. Thanks for explaining that! 😀 Mom said she found the music on iTunes and will download it for me! 😀
Glad we got that sorted out! And yay for your Mom downloading the music from iTunes! She’s great!
I am not familiar with Holst’s work, but it sounds very contemporary and spiritual piece. I had studied a lot of theosophical material over the past 25 years. and I’m glad your shared this mystical expeirence with us. I am intrigued and will look up the music. You really were fortunate to have been selected to sing in the choir. What an opportunity. Very interesting post! And, thanks for the sites.
Thanks so much, Pat. I’m glad you found the post intriguing enough to entice you to look up the music. And yes, I was fortunate. So many wonderful musical experiences came my way during my years in Winnipeg, mostly due to Winnifred. She still is a treasured friend (now in her eighties, and still playing piano and organ.)
I am somewhat familiar with this work, but you filled in quite a bit more. I’m so glad you shared your special experience with it. I was telling my husband about this post–he used to be a classical musician–and he had his own memory of playing this piece with an orchestra and making a mistake that caused quite a bit of confusion and discombobulation midst the orchestra! Not a pleasant memory for him, but I enjoyed the fact that he had his own “The Planets” memory just as I was reading this blog.
Thanks, Judy! I’ve sent you an email with my own memory!
Interesting as you mention 1984 and 1985 thats when Saturn was last in Scorpio.
I listened to the Planets often, though I no longer have it in any format. I loved the musical identity he gave to each orb. What a super opportunity to sing in that choir, Beth!
I used to be a bigger fan of classical music and have been absorbed with jazz and blues lately. This sounds very interesting and I will check it out, Thanks for the mind expansion!
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