iMedia: Holst's The Planets

Being a relative of the famous composer Gustav Holst (he dropped the von off of his last name), his powerful music has always been of high importance in my family. In his most known work, The Planets, the Jupiter movement in this link is truly inspiring in our everyday lives.

This movement progresses through many different stages, each one bringing new feelings and emotions. The piece starts off very bold with all sections of the orchestra blaring. Towards the middle (around minute three on the link) of this movement we hear calmness and tranquility. Smooth rhythms and slurred notes allow the audience to feel at ease. Yet the piece ends with a bang (around minute six), bringing back the power of the horns and strings. This can most definitely be considered an emotional roller coaster.

The planet of Jupiter itself is one of raw power, with its enormous size and breathtaking color. It is frequently viewed in the night sky, its light casting all the way down to earth. It may be difficult to relate to something as vast as Jupiter, but the emotions the piece creates are more important than the reference to the planet. The Jupiter movement matters because it illustrates our lives today. As humans, we experience many different things, each creating their own set of emotions. They greatly vary, as we see in the movement of Jupiter.

People today often underestimate the power of classical music and prefer the modern sounds of today's pop culture. Yet classical music has always been there, inspiring the many generations that have been lucky enough to hear it. Sometimes its nice to take a step back from the rush of today and simply listen to the sounds of the past and let your mind wander.