Matériel : Partition
This is the first time that a version of Gustav Holst's The Planets for solo Piano has been published. In this glorious publication, the emotional rollercoaster that is this seven-movement orchestral suite can be played on a single Piano, with those crashing chords and textural melodies sounding just fantastic on the solo keys.Originally scored for two pianos and four hands, this epic orchestral work continues to astound and astonish audiences around the world, even a century after Holst begun work on the first movement, Mars, the Bringer of War. This volume allows the solo pianist to emulate those glorious melodies, wonderful harmonies and dynamic rhythms, bringing the wonder of The Planets to the keys.This unique arrangement of The Planets reduces the entire orchestra to just a solo Piano, with some fingering hints throughout. The lovely engraving is an absolute pleasure to read from, and the sound of those thunderous rhythms and sweet melodies sounds absolutely brilliant coming from the purity and clarity of a solo Piano. With all seven movements included in this The Planets sheet music, you'll be able to learn Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, in the entire work that's sometimes thunderous, occasionally calm, often bombastic but always beautiful.With the full-colour astrophotography of the cover, the detailed, accurate and clear engraving and the inherent uniqueness of such an arrangement befits the timeless and enduring achievement of a work like this. The compositional history and musical qualities of The Planets are fascinating, and the lengthy introduction details the rhythms, the harmonies and the personality that Holst injected into his work, so you can learn about this glorious work before delving into the stunning arrangement of each of the seven movements.For the first time, the epic and vast work of art that is Gustav Holst's The Planets has been arranged for solo Piano, so you can play the entirety of these seven movements as a single pianist, incorporating all of the atmospheric dynamics and universal themes into the keys. / Piano
SKU: ST.C320
ISBN 9790570813209.
Composer’s Note:I composed The Planets to be performed during my tenure as Composer in Residence at Chetham’s International Piano Summer School, Manchester, in August 2018. Drawing inspiration from Holst’s Suite of the same name – a work of unstoppable importance – my composition nevertheless contrasts conspicuously, both in its overall scheme (nine movements instead of seven) and orientation (my work takes the Sun as its point of orientation, whereas Holst places the Earth at the centre point and hence leaves it out of the musical scheme). There is, as a consequence, a sense of increasing serenity to my music following the effervescence of Jupiter, though there are reverberations of earlier themes and moods in the concluding movement, Pluto, which nevertheless ends enigmatically as befits its distant, ‘cold’ designation. Pluto was left out of Holst’s work for good reason – it had yet to be discovered – though Colin Matthews redressed the situation admirably in 2000. Whether one chooses to go along with Pluto’s unresolved status, or indeed to promote it to the position of ‘full’ planet (amusingly, Pluto became demoted to dwarf- planet in 1992) is perhaps less important than its potential to evince a musical spirit entirely to itself.Performanc e Note:Movements may be performed separately as desired, though the connections between musical characters will of course be lost in doing so. In Neptune and Pluto (which are best performed attacca) I include infrequent use of a bell, pitched at B4. This denotes the intangibility of time; it adds a welcome new colour, as well as an additional element for the audience to ponder on. A standard hotel receptionist’s bell was used in the inaugural performance – surprisingly resonant, even in a sizeable auditorium – though if this is unavailable the cellist can play the same note (or harmonic, if preferred).World Premiere given at Stoller Hall, Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester, August 2018: Gillian Poznansky (flute), Sebastian Poznansky (cello) and Mark Tanner (piano).Duration: 30 minutesGrade 8(+)Former Spartan Press Cat. No.: SP1419.
