Most of my classical collection has been exempt from this project on account of my lack of knowledge on the subject (and the time commitment required). However, there is one classical work with which I have a long standing intimate knowledge of: Gustav Holst’s The Planets.

Composed in the 1910s, each piece revolves around a specific planet in the solar system and its astrological influence. Mars, The Bringer of War with its 5/4 bombast, triumph, and mourning and Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity with its bouncing, harvest-like jubilance are far and away the most popular as a result of their immediacy. The other pieces are quieter, less straightforward, but just as rewarding–specifically the swelling, plodding Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age, which was Holst’s personal favorite. Each piece has its own distinct personality that is effective and unique within the suite, which in a work of this scale is impressive. Venus, the Bringer of Piece is a serene understatement. Mercury, the Winged Messenger is light and flits about. Uranus, the Magician bursts with all of the pomp and frivolity of a carnival. Neptune, the Mystic lingers through oddly placed chords and the appearance of a female chorale.

When I first heard Mars and Jupiter in high school, I was instantly entranced. I tracked down the whole and devoured it. For my final project in music theory class, I composed a Pluto piece as a companion to the suite. But it’s worth noting that Holst was still alive when the ninth planet (now dwarf planet–thanks a lot, NDT) was discovered, and saw the composition of an eighth movement as unnecessary. The Planets needed nothing further.