Perhaps that is where my brain will be heading as I continue working on an eight page essay on Beethoven for my class tomorrow at 1:00.

So far, three pages down and the only thing standing in my way is writer's block.

I was talking with a friend in Germany earlier today and he mentioned something about going stargazing later on with his girlfriend and noted that it was a particularly good time of year to spot Jupiter. He never said why, or gave any clarified scientific reasons, I often try not to divulge that from him frequently, but it got me in a rather Holst-ish mood.

So below is "Jupiter, the bringer of jollity!!" (go figure) the central movement and my favorite from Gustav Holst's Planet Suite, Op.32



Everyone talks about Mars being so amazing, despite its strong rhythmic motivation I just don't like that particular movement too much. Jupiter kind of acts like the pinnacle of the entire suite, and could stand on its own if performed separately.

There is also speculation abound that the first four movements act as a device forming a four movement symphony. It would make sense in that method as the Suite starts with Mars, progressing through the serene Venus: bringer of peace, and Mercury: the winged messenger mimicking the Minuet before finding itself a finale in Jupiter.

Even more surprising is that after the momentous occasion of Jupiter has passed, the suite dives into three very diverse movements in Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. They all possess mystic qualities not seen in the first four movements. It is almost as if Holst wrote two symphonies and placed them together to create the suite. The same form with the opening three is seen in a way with the final three movements.

Saturn is very heavy, plodding and epic running parallel to Mars in several compositional traits. Uranus is possibly the most "vulgar" and "eccentric" out of all the planets, rather suiting since the movement comes tagged as Uranus, "the magician." The suite then appears to resolve from the adventure on Uranus into a mystic, unknown being with the tranquil and sublime Neptune movement.

The entire suite is a very unique composition, in which the influences of Stravinsky are profound. It is his most popular work by most standards, though Holst insists it is not his best, and as such distracts from the rest of his work.