Composer: Gustav Holst
Piece: The Planets
Performer: L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Charles Dutoit
Where: Apple Music, Streamed
Score: IMSLP Score
As the course (and first assignment) requires scoring for multiple instruments, I decided that I needed to get in the habit of reading orchestral scores. Holst was recommended by a number of YouTube videos on composition (for example, Ryan Leach’s 10 ESSENTIAL Orchestral Scores You Need To Study), so that’s where I chose to begin.
From the opening strains of the first movement, “Mars, the Bringer of War”, the music evokes a sense of deja vu, as I was reminded over and over again of the film scores that have been influenced by it.
It is impossible for me not to hear fragments of film soundtracks, as the piece evokes John Williams’ Star Wars, Howard Shore’s The Lord of Rings, and even perhaps Bernard Herrmann’s Vertigo. I have no specific knowledge that any of these composers directly borrowed from Holst, but the style of this work is very similar to the language of the modern film soundtrack, especially of blockbuster and modern action-adventure films.
Indeed, for me the piece sounds so much like a film soundtrack, it is hard to separate it from its later influences, which unfortunately reduces its power. I was both fascinated and distracted by the number of motives that have been borrowed or paraphrased in film. It reminded me of reading a work of Shakespeare for the first time and noting all of the then original turns of phrase that have become cliché in our current language.
While not unique to The Planets, I am always reminded how simple motives can be, and yet be memorable. Thinking back on what has remained with me in the piece was some of the simple flute or woodwind motives, contrasted with rhythmic and explosive brass parts. Isn’t afraid to be simple at times, and repetitive (especially those rhythmic ostinatos).
I am left overall with the feeling that I would go back to this pieces if I was composing for a film, but at this point I am unable to separate it from that sensation. I may come back to it when and if I get deeper into orchestration, but not likely for pleasure.
(Also, as I noted above, this was the first time I tried to follow an orchestral piece with a score in front of me. That was quite challenging, and I tried twice, once with the IMSLP score linked above, and then with the Dover reprint as a hard copy. It’s much easier for me to follow on paper, but it wasn’t easy, and challenging to anchor when I lost my place. I tried various techniques to reorient myself during, such as looking for percussion tremolos to end, or tracking specific instruments, but it’s a lot of information to sift through, especially as my audiation skills are under-developed.)