Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity

from "The Planets"

by Gustav Holst, arr. by Nikk Pilato

"Jupiter" is the fourth movement of Gustav Holst's The Planets suite. One of the most frequently heard, it has made appearances in films such as The Right Stuff, and television shows such as The Quartermass Experiment. It has even served as inspiration for pop and rock artists such as Frank Zappa (Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin) and Bathory (Hammerheart). The chorale section that makes up the majority of this arrangement was developed into a patriotic hymn (Thaxted, also known as I vow to thee, my Country) by Cecil Spring-Rice. This arrangement is of medium-easy difficulty, and is easily playable by most high school bands. It can be combined with other Nikk Nakks Music arrangements of movements from the suite to create a complete show of The Planets.

Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (England) in 1874. He is most famous for his orchestral suite, "The Planets," but is also well-known for his two military suites for band (Suite in E-flat, Op. 28 No. 1, and Suite in F, Op. 28 No. 2), his Hammersmith, the St. Paul's Suite for string orchestra, and various smaller orchestral works. Holst was influenced by Hindy mysticism and spirituality, as well as astronomy and astrology, which led to his interest in composing a suite based around the supposed "personalities" ascribed to the planets in the book What Is A Horoscope? by Alan Leo. "The Planets" was composed in two stages, with Mars, Venus, and Jupiter coming first, and Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Mercury composed after a break to work on other pieces.

While Holst lived to see the discovery of Pluto, he chose not to add it to the suite. The companion piece Pluto, the Renewer, which is sometimes played with the full suite, was composed by Colin Matthews

For an audio sample (MIDI), please click  

Details

Catalog#: NN06-002
Duration: 1:30
Difficulty: Moderate/Easy

Instrumentation:

Flute/Piccolo
Clarinet I-II-III
Alto Sax I-II
Tenor Sax
Trumpet I-II-III
Mellophone I-II
Tenor I-II-III (includes Trombone and Euphonium)
Basses
Mallets
Sideline Percussion

FULL SET: $50.00 (includes shipping)

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