Touring the Solar System with Holst's The Planets
II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
The Planets, Op. 32
I'm Gustav Holst, and in this part I'm going to walk you through II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace. You'll hear a solo horn sing the opening theme, then a solo violin and a lone oboe take their turns, and it's worth your time because this is the calmest music I ever wrote. Since my fellow composers and I also teach you on this site to recognize our pieces when they play, you're welcome to put yourself to the test once you've heard Venus.
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Put Your Feet Up and Your Ears On
Before you press play, I'd ask you to settle into a comfortable chair, because this is the one movement of my suite that doesn't want you perched on the edge of your seat. Listen first for a solo horn singing a long theme, and then for the flutes and oboes that reply to it, a bit like a question followed by a soft answer. Later a solo violin steps forward with a second theme, and in the middle an oboe takes over alone while the celesta, a keyboard that sounds like a tiny music box, sprinkles bright notes around it. You don't need to know any music to follow this, because all you have to do is notice who is singing at each moment.Why Peace Gets a Planet
I called it Venus, the Bringer of Peace because my starting point for the whole suite was astrology, where every planet has a character of its own, and not astronomy or mythology. The character I heard in Venus was a calm one, so the music is tranquil from beginning to end. I placed it second in the suite, right after Mars, because I ordered the movements by what works best in the music and not by the planets' distance from the Sun. After the hammering pulse of Mars, a movement of stillness lands far better than another loud one would, and I think you'll feel that contrast yourself.A Form Without a Name Tag
Choosing a form for Venus was an adventure, because I didn't reach for a sonata or a rondo, which are the usual classical moulds. Instead the movement is built from sections that are set apart by their tempo markings, so you can hear each one arrive as the music slows or sways. It opens Adagio in 4/4, there is an Andante section in 3/4, and at the centre sits a Largo. I'll take them one at a time in the next paragraphs, so you'll always know where you are.Section 1: A Horn Wakes Up Slowly
The movement opens Adagio in 4/4, which simply means slow, with four steady beats in every bar. The solo horn gives out its theme, the flutes and oboes answer, and the mood is settled before you've counted to ten. Then the solo violin brings in a second theme, a more intimate voice after the wide, open sound of the horn. Nothing hurries here, and that's exactly what I wanted you to feel first.Section 2: The Oboe Takes the Floor
In the centre of the movement the music settles into a Largo, and the calm becomes even deeper. An oboe plays a solo here, and it sounds like a single voice thinking quietly to itself. The celesta adds its delicate decoration, a little sparkle laid over the top of the melody. The character is tranquil, and for me this is the heart of the whole piece.Section 3: Learning to Count to Three
The Andante section is in 3/4, which means three beats to the bar instead of four. That gives the music a gentle, rocking lilt, quite different from the even steps of the opening. The tempo moves along a little more freely than before, though it never loses its sense of ease. Put the three sections together and you have a journey with no storm in it, which after Mars is quite an achievement.Press Play and Stay a While
Now I invite you to hear Venus for yourself, with nothing else to do for a few minutes. Let the music wash over you, and when you can, pick out the horn, the oboe and the solo violin as they take their turns. Keep in mind the shifts in tempo we talked about, because they are the signposts along the way. I hope you find the calm of my Venus as rewarding to listen to as I found it to write.---
I hope you enjoyed learning about my Venus, the Bringer of Peace, and finding your way through its listen guide. Now that the last quiet notes have faded, I like to think the movement leaves a little stillness behind, and that you carry some of it with you. After the relentless pulse of Mars, this is the place in the suite where the music finally lets you breathe. You may notice that you hear the horn, the violin and the oboe more clearly the second time around. There is still so much more to explore in The Planets, from the restless energy of Mercury to the slow, solemn steps of Saturn and the distant voices that close the suite in Neptune. Each movement has its own character, and each rewards a patient listener. If you'd like to keep going, please click on the links provided and let them lead you further into The Planets. I'd be glad to have you along for the rest of the journey.
Best MomentsBackstoryListen Guide 1: I. Mars, the Bringer of WarListen Guide 3: III. Mercury, the Winged MessengerListen Guide 4: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of JollityListen Guide 5: V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old AgeListen Guide 6: VI. Uranus, the MagicianListen Guide 7: VII. Neptune, the MysticMore about HolstLearn to recognize it when you hear it