Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Planets!


Wanted to drop you another quick note -- I forgot to mention last time that when I added those new choral pieces, I also added a copy of Gustav Holst's The Planets. This is one of my favorite pieces and was my first real introduction to 5/4 time.

I had actually run across 5/4 time before in Daphnis and Chloe, but thought of it more as a curiosity. When I first heard the Mars portion from The Planets, though, I was mesmerized! Holst used 5/4 time to create a relentless juggernaut -- a really interesting technique!

If you haven't heard it before and have a chance to pick up a recording, you'll likely be very entertained. Please enjoy the transcription at Free Sheet Music as well!