G. Holst - The planets Op. 32 - Saturn, the Bringer of Golden Age - Berliner Philharmoniker - H. von Karajan


The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst. With the exception of Earth (the centre of all yet influentially inert astrologically), all the astrological planets known during the work's composition are represented.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for an exceptionally large orchestra:
Woodwind: 4 flutes (3rd doubling 1st piccolo; 4th doubling 2nd piccolo and a "bass flute in G", actually an alto flute), 3 oboes (3rd doubling bass oboe), an English horn, 3 clarinets in B-flat, a bass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons and a contrabassoon
Brass: 6 horns in F, 4 trumpets in C, 3 trombones (2 tenor and 1 bass), a "tenor tuba" (euphonium in B-flat) and a bass tuba
Keyboards: a celesta, and an organ
Percussion: 6 timpani (2 players, 3 drums each except in "Uranus" having 4 drums for 1st and 2 drums for 2nd), a bass drum, a snare drum, cymbals, a triangle, a tam-tam, a tambourine, a glockenspiel, a xylophone, and tubular bells
Strings: 2 harps, 1st and 2nd violins, violas, cellos, and double basses
Voices: ("Neptune" only), 2 three-part women's choruses (SSA) located in an adjoining room which is to be screened from the audience

The suite has seven movements, each named after a planet and its corresponding astrological character (see Planets in astrology):

1.Mars, the Bringer of War
2.Venus, the Bringer of Peace
3.Mercury, the Winged Messenger
4.Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
5.Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
6.Uranus, the Magician
7.Neptune, the Mystic

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets

The striking movement was Holst’s own favourite. Saturn brings the restrictions of old age and it also brings discipline of an exorable kind when everything is test for truth. The resolution of this terrible tension occurs when lessons are learned and personal wisdom is gained bringing with it greater ease. All this is most graphically felt in the score as the tri-tonal openings on the double-basses eventually leads to a dissonant and remarkable clangourous climax. From this point the mood changes; gentle undulating woodwind, softened bells and the double-basses now in mellow E major make us aware that a new understanding has been reached.
-Words by Raymond Head

http://www.holstmuseum.org.uk/music-the-planets-suite-saturn.htm