Description
Gustav Holst (1874-1934) began writing The Planets suite at the outbreak of the First World War. Each of the seven movements is named after a planet and its corresponding astrological character. They are presented in the order of their distance from Earth: Mars, the Bringer of War; Venus, the Bringer of Peace; Mercury, the Winged Messenger; Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician; and Neptune, the Mystic.
Of Jupiter Holst wrote: “Jupiter brings jollity in the ordinary sense, and also the more ceremonial type of rejoicing associated with religions or national festivities.”
Little wonder that Jupiter sounds so celebratory and exuberant. It is also unmistakably English: indeed in 1921 Holst adapted the stately theme from the movement’s middle section to become the popular patriotic hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country with words by Cecil Spring Rice. It has since been adopted (as the song World in Union) as the theme for the Rugby World Cup.
