Gustav Holst conducts "The Planets" (I) - Mars, the Bringer of War

[randomvidsinc123]

My favorite recording is by the Royal Philharmonic (they played St. Paul's Suite too, it's one album on iTunes) but my favorite version on YouTube is probably the BBC Phil at Proms 2009.

[MurakamiTenshi]

I see what you did there, John Williams

[gatomjpiky]

Hans Zimmer took this movement for Gladiator,im completely sure!

[tl1358]

Damn that's fast!

[blondiepianist]

Goodness. I've always been a huge fan of this piece. Didn't even know this recording existed till now.

[daveenyart]

I'm very partial to the LA Philharmonic recording from the early 70's with Zubin Mehta conducting. Roger Bobo on the tuba is unsurpassed....unbelieveable.

[lednew2010]

I have listened to many a live, broadcast, and recorded performance, and Steinberg/BSO is still the best. Composers often conduct their own work faster than others do, but I think Holst has it right. He marks Mars as "Fast" and that's how it should go. The playing here is a little sloppy and the crude recording equipment of the time squashes the dynamics and tone, but the Steinberg version lets you hear what Holst wanted.

[lewars1912]

@lednew2010 You're spot on about Steinberg's version.

[ColossusRhodes]

James Levine's conduction ftw

[jinsarangi]

HOW?

Genius !

what an arrangement this guy could make hey!

[lewars1912]

Steinberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra is the most dramatic version of Mars I've ever heard. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who is aware of a version that they consider matches Steinberg's for sheer intensity.

[randomvideoproducer]

@lewars1912 I havent heard that recording, but James Levine conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is best on youtube in my opinion. Sieghenblahblah has it on his channel.

[lewars1912]

@randomvideoproducer Yes, the version you mention is very good; Very romantic. The Steinberg one with the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been uploaded here on youtube by Boomarzo, and also TheSpamjammer.

[vonfrancois]

@randomvideoproducer I agree with you, in fact Chicago/Levine is one of the best version ever recorded in studio.

[emmausyt]

This early version of the masterpiece sounds almost vaudeville in places.

I heard the modern, slower, more considered, beefier, bassier arrangement last night at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall. That was similar in character to the 2009 Proms version posted elsewhere on You Tube. The climactic change of pace (at 5.21 on this version) is one of the most exquisite moments in classical music.

[stratocaster539]

London symphony orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent Is the definitive recording of the planets - ace of clubs collection.To me no one has surpassed it to date.

[CelisseCazzola445]

Dnload the audio from this tune at soundnabber doht cohm.

[krlowe]

Because of the time constraints of the 78rpm format, the tempi are often much faster than is usually the case today. "Wikipedia"

[athrough0]

I can understand why he'd want this speed, I just don't think an orchestra can handle it.

[lewars1912]

@athrough0  I don't think he really wanted it to be this speed. I heard that he was in a rush to go for a pee.

[2ndviolinist]

@athrough0 You are obviously unaware of orchestras such as Chicago with Stock, Concertgebouw with Mengelberg, Philly with Stokowski and numerous others. I've always thought this was surprisingly bad for the LSO in this period. Many other recordings of theirs from the '20s and '30s are much better.

[JMTaxus]

At that time recordings had to be faster, due to the space that existed within the ''recorders''. Now that we have CDs, conductors may record at the speed they wish. Listen to a Furtwangler recording. He was considered one of the great conductors, yet his Beethoven (for example) sounds rushed.

[Menophanes]

A couple of points raised in previous comments: - (1) The acoustic set of 1924/5, which I have in its original form, is quite complete (I cannot answer at first hand for the 1926 version represented here); (2) In that version, 'Mars' (which fills two 12" sides) is noticeably less rushed than it is here.

[Teladian]

Wow, that is quite quick. I am more surprised at how badly out of tune the orchestra is. I realize it's old and the recording technology wasn't great, but I have heard other recordings from this era (and before) that were much better than this. Makes me wonder how this piece made it past this era to be played ever again.

[rayjensenwaves]

@Teladian seconded

[flugel76]

Yes, I am fully aware of 78s, and I also am aware that neither of the 2 recordings he conducted contained the entire suite, meaning there was plenty of space left on the records. Try to remember, just because it's on Wikipedia doesn't mean it's true...

[flugel76]

There is no doubt in my mind that at 4:24, the trombones were thinking "This man is a genuine lunatic.....SLOW DOWN!!!!!"

Who am I to criticize the composer's own choice for a tempo, though. Right? :P But that's gotta be over 200 bpm. You can bet the strings were as fatigued as the brass by the end of this track :P

[JupiterIV]

Actually, it's 168 to the quarter, after checking it with my metronome.

[JupiterIV]

Plus, it had to be that fast. They were trying to fit the whole movement on one side of a 78. You are familiar with that size of record, aren't you?