Composition: The Planets, Op. 32 (Holst, Gustav)
| Title | The Planets |
| Alternative title | Suite for Large Orchestra |
| Creators | Gustav Holst (composer) |
| Opus | Op.32 |
| Instrumentation | female chorus, organ and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 7 |
| Keys | — |
| Composed | 1914 |
| First published | 1921 |
| Dedication | Imogen Holst |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | — |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Suites |
| Period | Early 20th century |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars, the Bringer of War. Allegro | — | — | — |
| Venus, the Bringer of Peace. Adagio | — | — | — |
| Mercury, the Winged Messenger. Vivace | — | — | — |
| Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. Allegro giocoso | — | — | — |
| Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age. Adagio | — | — | — |
| Uranus, the Magician. Allegro | — | — | — |
| Neptune, the Mystic. Andante – Allegretto | — | — | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 tubas and piano | Wayne Beardwood |
| view | Complete | 2 pianos | — |
| view | Complete | piano | Everard Sigal |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and 2 tubas | Wayne Beardwood |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | 2 pianos | — |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | piano | — |
| view | Venus, The Bringer of Peace (No.2) | piano | Joseph Fiddes |
| view | Venus, The Bringer of Peace (No.2) | 2 pianos | — |
| view | Mercury, The Winged Messenger (No.3) | 3 bassoons and contrabassoon | John Clarke |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and 2 tubas | Wayne Beardwood |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn | John Clarke |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | piano | Klaus Heidtmann |
| view | Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age (No.5) | 2 pianos | — |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Goodwin & Tabb | 1921 | Complete Score · view 1. Mars, the Bringer of War · view 2. Venus, the Bringer of Peace · view 3. Mercury, the Winged Messenger · view 4. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity · view 5. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age · view 6. Uranus, the Magician · view 7. Neptune, the Mystic · view |
| view | Complete | — | Musescore | 2018 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Goodwin & Tabb | 1921 | Flute 1/2 · view Flute 3/4 (3 also Piccolo, 4 also Piccolo, Alto* flute) · view Oboe 1/2 · view Bass Oboe (also Oboe 3) · view English Horn · view Clarinet 1/2 (B, A, plus Btransposed) · view Clarinet 3 (B, A, plus Btransposed) · view Bass Clarinet (B) · view Bassoon 1/2 · view Bassoon 3, Contrabassoon · view Horn 1/2 (F) · view Horn 3/4 (F) · view Horn 5/6 (F) · view Trumpet 1/2 (C, plus Btransposed) · view Trumpet 3/4 (C, plus Btransposed) · view Trombone 1/2 (tenor, bass clef, plus bass clef alternate) · view Trombone 3 (Bass), Tenor Tuba (B), Tuba · view Timpani (2 players) · view Triangle/Side Drum/Tambourine/Cymbals/Bass Drum/Gong, Glockenspiel/Xylophone · view Organ · view Celesta · view Harp 1/2 · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos · view Cellos (better scan) · view Basses · view |
| view | Neptune, The Mystic (No.7) | vocal score | — | — | Chorus Score · view |
| view | Neptune, The Mystic (No.7) | vocal score | Catherine Cowie | 2018 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 tubas and piano |
— | — | Complete Score · view Trumpet 1 · view Trumpet 2 · view Trumpet 3 · view Trumpet 4 · view Horn 1 · view Horn 2 · view Trombone 1 · view Trombone 2 · view Tuba 1 · view Tuba 2 · view Piano (in VII. Neptune only) · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for 2 pianos | J. Curwen & Sons | 1949 | Complete score · view |
| view | Complete | Arrangement for piano |
— | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and 2 tubas |
— | — | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view Zip archive of 10 files (parts) · view |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 pianos | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 pianos | J. Curwen & Sons | 1949 | Complete Score · view Cover Pages · view |
| view | Mars, The Bringer of War (No.1) | Arrangement for piano | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Venus, The Bringer of Peace (No.2) | Arrangement for piano |
— | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Venus, The Bringer of Peace (No.2) | Arrangement for 2 pianos | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Mercury, The Winged Messenger (No.3) | Arrangement for 3 bassoons and contrabassoon |
— | — | Complete Score · view Bassoon 1 · view Bassoon 2 · view Bassoon 3 · view Contrabassoon · view |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones and 2 tubas |
— | — | Complete Score · view Trumpet 1 · view Trumpet 2 · view Trumpet 3 · view Trumpet 4 · view Horn 1 · view Horn 2 · view Trombone 1 · view Trombone 2 · view Tuba 1 · view Tuba 2 · view |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | Arrangement for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn |
— | — | Full Score · view Flute · view Oboe · view Clarinet (B) · view Bassoon · view Horn (F) · view |
| view | Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (No.4) | Arrangement for piano |
Klaus Heidtmann | 2021 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age (No.5) | Arrangement for 2 pianos | — | — | Complete Score · view |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Performers | Files |
|---|---|---|
| view | Michael Francis (conductor) | Complete Performance · file |
©2025 David P. Anderson