Lockdown Listening #14: Holst - The Planets

An absolute classic this week - I hope you enjoy it!

BRONZE

  1. Name 5 musical features in the first movement that make it sound war-like

  2. If movement 6 (Uranus, the magician) were a person, what would they be like? Draw a quick picture of them and list some of their character traits

  3. Does this music remind you of any film music you have heard? If so, what, and why do you think they might be linked?

  4. Why do you think the final movement ends so quietly?

  5. Do a bit of research about this piece (look at when it was written, and why) and see if you can work out why there is no ‘Pluto’ movement

SILVER

  1. List 3 ways per movement that Holst creates musical colour through means other than melody

  2. Why do you think some of these movements are more popular than others? Should they be?

  3. Find 5 example of musical sound effects, or where the music emulates something else (eg, a clock chiming). Write a short paragraph for each about how Holst achieves this effect.

  4. What do you notice about the use of rhythm in this suite? What makes it unusual, and why would Holst make these decisions?

  5. This piece was originally written for 2 pianos. To what extent do you agree that the arrangement for orchestra is an improvement?

GOLD

  1. To what extent do you agree that this suite is an example of experimental music?

  2. In the second movement, to what extent do you agree that although a main melody is only heard briefly, it is present throughout the movement in other ways?

  3. Find and notate an example of a cross-rhythm from each movement

  4. Would you describe this music as ‘symphonic’?

  5. Do you think Holst was composing in a similar way to other British composers at the time?

Benjamin JacksonComment