Ann Arbor Concert Band: The Planets

Event Summary

NOTE THIS EVENT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED

Date(s): Sunday, January 18, 2026
Time: 2:00pm
Venue: Michigan Theater
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Event Description

Join the Ann Arbor Concert Band as we present Gustav Holst’s epic composition. The Planets, Opus 32, is a seven-movement suite. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its supposed astrological character.

“The Planets” was composed over nearly three years, between 1914 and 1917. The work had its origins in March and April 1913, while Holst holidayed in Spain with composer Arnold Bax and Arnold’s brother. A discussion about astrology piqued Holst’s interest. Shortly after the holiday Holst wrote: “I only study things that suggest music to me. Recently the character of each planet suggested lots to me, and I have been studying astrology fairly closely”. Holst described The Planets as “a series of mood pictures”, acting as “foils to one another”, with “very little contrast in any one of them”. But although astrology was Holst’s starting point, he arranged the planets to suit his own plan, ignoring some important astrological factors such as the influence of the sun and the moon, and attributing certain non-astrological qualities to each planet. Nor is the order of movements the same as that of the planets’ orbits round the sun; his only criterion being that of maximum musical effectiveness. Opening with the more disturbing character of Mars allows a more dramatic and compelling working out of the musical material.

The Ann Arbor Concert Band is proud to present all-seven movements of Gustav Holst’s The Planets!

Program

I. Mars: The Bringer of War
Angry and ominous, the first movement represents the Roman God of War. The craggy rhythms and pulsing drum beats give the music a military feel.

II. Venus: The Bringer of Peace
The cool blue Venus follows angry red Mars. The music is slower and beautifully eerie, with relaxing tunes and ethereal passages calling to mind the Roman goddess.

III. Mercury: The Winged Messenger
Flighty and fast, the lively Mercury is quick and powerful in equal measure. The high-pitched harp, flute, and glockenspiel tunes hop, skip, and jump throughout the suite’s short duration.

IV. Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity
As the round-faced cheery uncle of all the planets, and king of the gods, Jupiter is impressive and Majestic. The swelling brass and slow waltzing woodwinds are met with moments of poignant beauty in the glorious tune now known as ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’.

V. Saturn: The Bringer of Old Age
A favorite movement of Holst’s, Saturn is quite a shift from the positive music heard in Jupiter. The opening is slow and almost unsettling, until the music expands into a heavy march.

VI. Uranus: The Magician
Starting with four brassy notes, Uranus shifts from heavy timpani blows to a boisterous gallop. The full band shows the impressive power of this icy planet, represented in Greek mythology as the God of the Sky.

VII. Neptune: The Mystic
Beautiful melodies slide over each other, until Holst brings out the crowning glory: a mystical choir, which gives the music an other-worldly quality.

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