'THE PLANETS' by GUSTAV HOLST

Question 1

How many movements in this piece?

Answer 1

7

Question 2

Which 2 planets are missing?

Answer 2

EARTH, PLUTO

Question 3

When were these pieces composed?

Answer 3

1914 just before the outbreak of WWI

Question 4

Who was Holst?

Answer 4

An English Romantic Composer

Question 5

When did Holst live?

Answer 5

Between 1874-1934

Question 6

Thinking about ‘Mars’ how do the elements in the music make describe this scenario?

Answer 6

A rhythm which quickly swaps from loud to quiet. It has an increasing dynamic.

Question 7

Describe the dynamics of the ‘Mars’ extract

Answer 7

Piano, Forte, Fortissimo, Pianissimo = PFFP

Question 8

What is significant of the time signature for the ‘Mars’ extract?

Answer 8

This time signature has an unsettling feeling due to its irregular number of beats.

Question 9

What is the musical name for repeating a pattern?

Answer 9

Ostinato

Question 10

What instruments can you hear in ‘Mars’

Answer 10

Piano, Violins, Trumpets, Cello and Drums

Question 11

The violins in ‘Mars’ play using a technique called CON LEGNO - what does this mean?

Answer 11

Playing with the wood of the bow.

Question 12

Thinking about ‘VENUS’, what is the name of the solo instrument at the start?

Answer 12

French Horn

Question 13

What is the tonality of the ‘Venus’ extract? (Major or minor)

Answer 13

Major

Question 14

What instruments are not being used in ‘Venus’ that were used in ‘Mars’?

Answer 14

Piano, Harp, Timpani, Cymbals, Clarinets

Question 15

What is the tempo of the movement for ‘Venus’?

Answer 15

Largo

Question 16

Thinking about ‘MERCURY’, what note value has the composer used at the start?

Answer 16

Semi-quaver

Question 17

What is the pitch mainly in the piece, ‘Mercury’?

Answer 17

High

Question 18

What is the tempo of the movement for ‘Mercury’

Answer 18

Presto

Question 19

What instruments play the morse code theme in ‘Mercury’?

Answer 19

Violin, Viola, Glockenspeil

Question 20

Can you match the Planets to the Roman Gods?

Answer 20

1. Mars - The Bringer of War
2. Venus - The Bringer of Peace
3. Mercury - The Winged Messenger
4. Jupiter - King of the Gods and Bringer of Joy
5. Saturn - The Bringer of Old Age
6. Uranus - The Magician
7. Neptune - The Mystic

Question 21

Who composed the music entitle ‘The Planets’?

Answer 21

Gustav Holst

Question 22

How many planets did Holst write about?

Answer 22

7

Question 23

When was this piece of music written?

Answer 23

1914 - The Romantic Period

Question 24

What style of music was this written in?

Answer 24

Suite

Question 25

What does the term ‘tempo’ mean?

Answer 25

Speed of the music

Question 26

What does the term ‘andante’ mean?

Answer 26

At a walking pace

Question 27

What does the term ‘dynamics’ mean?

Answer 27

The volume of the music

Question 28

What does the term ‘piano’ mean?

Answer 28

Quiet

Question 29

What does the term ‘pianissimo’ mean?

Answer 29

Very quiet