Neptune: The Mystic (Gustav Holst) | Behind the Score Ep. 60
Added 2024-11-19 23:37:50 +0000 UTCI invite you to join me for an analysis of the final movement of Gustav Holst's The Planets. Today, we're discussing movement seven, Neptune: The Mystic. It's an unconventional final movement full of polychords and shimmery woodwinds and percussion. I hope you enjoy!
Comments
Wonderful piece and wonderful episode of BtS, with just a tinge of saddnes that this great journey through the piece has now ended. I'm sure there are many pieces that would be great to go all the way through like this. I would love to see Le Sacre du Printemps analysed like this. It has some similiarities to The Planets in that Holst was influenced by Stravinsky's russian ballets, and the 2 works came out in the same period (one pre WWI and one after WWI though). However, Le Sacre is perhaps the most influential piece of classical music in the 20th century, and the use of polyrhythms in Le Sacre distinguishs from The Planets significantly. I am tempted to go through the whole sequence again - I'm sure I would pick up a lot I missed the first time. Thanks Doug for this.
Adie
2024-11-27 20:18:19 +0000 UTCMany Thanks. My suggestions would be The Miraculous Mandarin Suite (Bartok) or the Ressurection Symphony (Mahler)
Brian Rolfe
2024-11-21 23:19:57 +0000 UTCIt's been a long time since I listened to this piece, and my musical taste has changed an awful lot in the years between, and I've developed a great love of music which is off the beaten track so to speak. What an ethereal and translucent piece it is. It must have sounded so modern when it was first revealed to the World. I loved hearing your explanation and analysis. I'm going to have to go back and start again I think!
Ralph Darvill
2024-11-21 16:30:29 +0000 UTCThanks so much for this one, Doug. I'll have to re-watch the other Planets episodes but this one struck me as the music is so appropriate for Neptune's location as the last planet in the solar system and its name (Roman god of the sea). The instrumentation is essential and the ending makes you feel like you are leaving the solar system. I wonder how many composers of space movie scores took their cues from this magnificent piece.
Ross Pollack
2024-11-21 14:20:39 +0000 UTCAmy and I have chatted. The vid of our conversation is on both our channels. Thanks!
R. Douglas Helvering
2024-11-21 04:17:47 +0000 UTCCheck out Amy from Virgin Rock. She's a Classical Harpist who does Reaction channels as well. She is also a Teacher and Educator. I think you too would get along smashingly!
Rodney Griffin
2024-11-20 23:15:14 +0000 UTCI love this Entire suite! Blew my mind when I heard it by radio. Had to buy a copy, any copy Immediately.
Rodney Griffin
2024-11-20 23:01:16 +0000 UTCThank you for giving this music a human touch, rather than explaining it all from only a theoretical standpoint. I've had teachers who go "Blah, blah, blah..." without bringing a sense of wonder and interest to the music itself. I'm not sure where you can go from here, but I'll be listening!
Bill Coonley
2024-11-20 19:51:18 +0000 UTCA dream-like finale to The Planets. Thanks so much for the Planets series, and in this one in particular, your discussion of polychords and what makes them work. I plan to go back and review the entire series and see what else I can steal :-).
David Marshall
2024-11-20 13:53:40 +0000 UTCAnother excellent analysis. A possible follow-up, in the light of your closing remarks, might be Farben, from the Schoenberg 5 Orchesterstücke, Op 16. First performed in London in 1912 - at the Proms, so another connection! - Holst was in the audience and it was a definite influence on Neptune. I believe it was the only Schoenberg score Holst owned.
Joe O'Farrell
2024-11-20 03:56:41 +0000 UTCSuch an evocative score. Those little celesta notes over the woodwind figures bring up such mystery and intrigue; the wordless chorus, harp glissandos, tremolando strings and long brass chords, as well. I can never get tired of this guy (Holst), or the BtS work you've done on this and so many other pieces across the last couple of years. Nice work, Doug, and thanks, as always.
Peter Tutak
2024-11-20 03:18:44 +0000 UTCRespighi Church Windows please!
Jim Reeves
2024-11-20 01:13:17 +0000 UTCThanks Jim!
R. Douglas Helvering
2024-11-20 00:34:09 +0000 UTCI realize that most members don't have an inborn appreciation for these classical works. I just want to thank you Dr. Doug for these insightful sessions. I can see on your face the inspiration they have provided you. From the time I was aware of my childhood my Mom would lull us to sleep with classical piano pieces from Beethoven and Bach. At 5 I was gifted 3 record albums called "Classics for Children" which wove stories from the literary classics with famous musical scores. These were inspiring to my musical experiences. Thanks again,, more classics please!
Jim Reeves
2024-11-20 00:33:31 +0000 UTC
