Gustav Holst wrote the orchestral suite The Planets, which was first performed complete in 1920.
Holst composed The Planets between 1914 and 1916. The seven-movement suite takes its titles and broad expressive ideas from astrology rather than directly depicting astronomical science. Its movements are named for Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The complete public premiere took place at the Queen’s Hall in London on 15 November 1920, conducted by Albert Coates. Earlier performances had presented parts of the suite, including a private performance in 1918 and a public performance of several movements in 1919.
Earth is absent because Holst’s subject was the astrological character traditionally associated with the planets, not a complete scientific inventory of the Solar System. Pluto was also not included: it was discovered in 1930, long after Holst wrote the suite.