Holst: The Planets

I was so disappointed with this CD that I bought a different Holst "Planets" CD. Zubin Mehta decided to rush through my favorite part of "Jupiter". The cello (I think) section should be slow and deliberate. The jolly clown is having a pensive moment. This part should be chewed finely and savored. Rushing through it ruins the piece. The rest is not exactly great, either.

Holst The Planets was a universal awakening for progressive rock musicians during the early 70's. Mars, the bringer of War turns up on King Crimson's The Devil's Triangle. Excerpts from Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity are found on NO OPPORTUNITY NECESSARY by Yes. The main melody is reproduced on Manfred Mann's Joybringer. The center section of Mars, Bringer of War is played by Lucifer's Friend on Summerdream. I have also heard snipets of Procol Harum and Univers Zero. I believe that David Bedford and Bernard Hermann were influenced as well. Holst the Planets is very educating and musicians have been studying the work for decades. John Williams compositions for the Star Wars Trilogy is the most common example of just how influential Holst really was. A great buy!

Give a listen to The Planets, and you'll recognize the phrases and melodies and arrangement style that became Star Wars in John Williams' able hands.

I bought tis for my son who is a music major. He loved it

Totally remastered for surround sound or high resolution stereo and the results are astonishing. The Planets was always of demonstration quality; now it sounds more spacious than ever, with greater depth in the bass, enhanced internal definition and the dynamics expanded. The result is thrilling---Uranus and the brass bring a remarkable sense of the concert hall. The performance is basically traditional, with plenty of ferocity in Mars, delicacy in Mercury and sparkle in Jupiter, and throughout there is an appealing freshness as if one were experiencing Holst's wonderful orchestral effects for the first time.