Gustav Holst’s The Planets was first performed complete in 1920. The suite’s seven movements were not all introduced at the same time: portions were heard earlier, but the complete work received its first performance in London on 15 November 1920.
Holst composed The Planets between 1914 and 1916, during the First World War. Each movement portrays an astrological character, such as Mars as a bringer of war, Venus as a bringer of peace, and Jupiter as a bringer of jollity. The titles refer to astrological ideas rather than mythological stories directly.
The suite excludes Earth and Pluto. Pluto had not yet been discovered when Holst composed the music, and Holst did not add a movement after its 1930 discovery. The work’s seven-movement design therefore reflects the planets known to Holst that fit his concept.
The 1920 complete premiere helped establish The Planets as a major orchestral work. Its bold percussion, unusual orchestration, and strong contrasts made it especially influential on later film and concert music.