No not Patrick :) In another thread of mine the subject got diverted onto The Planets suite and adding to it, and I don't mind a bit of diversion if it's about Holst, then I thought 'Perhaps this diversion really needs its own thread' …. so …. VWALAH! …. Here it is!
I rather fancy the idea of adding to Holst's masterpiece. A vast suite to represent other astronomical bodies aswell, perhaps even man made ones, BUT …. such music I think would have to copy Holst's style otherwise I cannot see the piece holding together as one piece, it would just be a mishmash, and there's nothing wrong with a mishmash piece, but I think that's another project.
First thing to consider with this project is the title. Not sure the title The Planets and Beyond would do, as I think it would mainly representing objects within the solar system …. or would it?
Second thing to consider is the ending. Holst really buggered up adding Pluto, or adding anything to the ending didn't he the little rascal? How can you follow Neptune? …. Well …. does a piece representing further away objects like Pluto actually have to follow Neptune? The first three planets in Holst's piece are not in their correct astronomical order (they are actually exactly in reverse order). I reckon Pluto could just about go somewhere else, I know it would be a bit odd but better than following Neptune, also, I'm not quite sure if it isn't Pluto that's orbit is so eliptical it can sometimes cross Neptune's. As for representing Voyager it would perhaps be much more difficult to not have that at the end. I think you could do interesting things with Voyager. It could perhaps be a theme, like in Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition there is the theme that represents the visitor walking from picture to picture. Voyager could be a little theme that keeps close to the planets it passed before it flew out into the unknown. And …. it could be included within Neptune at the end. Perhaps Neptune's ending could be stretched out a bit to include a bit of Voyager popping in and then dissapearing to let Neptune's rocking chords finish the piece off just as in the original. Yes, not a bad idea, I'm rather pleased with that.
Third thing to consider is that each additional piece has to have a character, like Mars is the god of war, Pluto in Colin Matthew's piece is the renewer, and the music has to paint that character. I'm listening to Matthew's piece now, and although it is a brilliant piece, it does not say 'renewer' to me. If I were to compose such a piece I think I would start off with music that sounds a bit like its worn out, a melody perhaps that just can't get going properly, then gradually wake the melody (or effect, rhythm or whatever) up as the piece progresses. A bit like Knut Nystedt's masterpiece Immortal Bach but in reverse.
What do you think folks?
I rather fancy the idea of adding to Holst's masterpiece. A vast suite to represent other astronomical bodies aswell, perhaps even man made ones, BUT …. such music I think would have to copy Holst's style otherwise I cannot see the piece holding together as one piece, it would just be a mishmash, and there's nothing wrong with a mishmash piece, but I think that's another project.
First thing to consider with this project is the title. Not sure the title The Planets and Beyond would do, as I think it would mainly representing objects within the solar system …. or would it?
Second thing to consider is the ending. Holst really buggered up adding Pluto, or adding anything to the ending didn't he the little rascal? How can you follow Neptune? …. Well …. does a piece representing further away objects like Pluto actually have to follow Neptune? The first three planets in Holst's piece are not in their correct astronomical order (they are actually exactly in reverse order). I reckon Pluto could just about go somewhere else, I know it would be a bit odd but better than following Neptune, also, I'm not quite sure if it isn't Pluto that's orbit is so eliptical it can sometimes cross Neptune's. As for representing Voyager it would perhaps be much more difficult to not have that at the end. I think you could do interesting things with Voyager. It could perhaps be a theme, like in Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition there is the theme that represents the visitor walking from picture to picture. Voyager could be a little theme that keeps close to the planets it passed before it flew out into the unknown. And …. it could be included within Neptune at the end. Perhaps Neptune's ending could be stretched out a bit to include a bit of Voyager popping in and then dissapearing to let Neptune's rocking chords finish the piece off just as in the original. Yes, not a bad idea, I'm rather pleased with that.
Third thing to consider is that each additional piece has to have a character, like Mars is the god of war, Pluto in Colin Matthew's piece is the renewer, and the music has to paint that character. I'm listening to Matthew's piece now, and although it is a brilliant piece, it does not say 'renewer' to me. If I were to compose such a piece I think I would start off with music that sounds a bit like its worn out, a melody perhaps that just can't get going properly, then gradually wake the melody (or effect, rhythm or whatever) up as the piece progresses. A bit like Knut Nystedt's masterpiece Immortal Bach but in reverse.
What do you think folks?
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