Gustav Holst - Uranus

Uranus, from Gustav Holst's Planet Suite, being played by The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.

[Danny-zefs]

I love this piece so much. It always reminds me of a crazy magician who's never taken seriously by the others, so he uses dark magic to finally get their attention.

[MahlBruckner]

The sound in Uranus at 4:18 is the organ glissando, the player uses the back of fingers to slide up the keyboard, adding a wash of sound over that one measure. Holst was the first to call for this sound. I saw a live LAPhil.perf. last year where the organist rolled his forearms up the keys, holding more notes as he played. Very effective.

[hoo]

I love how the music sounds like it ends around 4:20, yet it continues with quiet, eerie notes. It's like a goofy evil wizard from a children's story who has truly horrifying motivations and sometimes does some really gruesome things, but it is all disguised as comedic silliness.

Or like the heroes think they've ridden themselves of the villain for good, but the villain is out there somewhere, plotting his return.

[Sploooks]

If Disney ever does another Fantasia, I hope they have an entire section for the planets

[cellogirlrw]

In Greek mythology, Uranus was a magician, and I can definitely hear a magician playing around in this piece. I love it!

[inquisitorgrand]

This part of Holst's The Planets reminds me a lot of Fantasia. You have The Sorceror's Apprentice with the goofy woodwind feature in the beginning, followed swiftly by Night on Bald Mountain as the brass kicks in and the volume cranks up, and then it ends with a bit of Rite of Spring during the cooldown. It seems Holst's works inspired more than John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith.

[takinoborudesu]

2:30 omg
piccolo: "BLLEAAAGHGHSKDFHSKDJFSDJF"
flutes: "BLELASDKFSDFHHSDFKJD"
clarinets:
brass:

[gnore_me.]

does anybody else sense a sort of humor in this song? like something about all the instruments dancing about then coming together in uniform is hilarious sounding to me.

[Termina]

3:51 When The Mad Magician gets fed up with all the overused anus jokes. 💀

[jimmymcgoochie]

This piece has it all: a cartoon character tripping over their own feet and falling face-first into a puddle, dissonant chords that sound like something written by Gershwin and some big dramatic DUN DUN
Imagine being the audience the first time The Planets were performed in public, hearing the hauntingly beautiful conclusion to Saturn and then this starts.

[turnersperry]

I'm a freshman in highschool and in my state orchestra and also 1st chair cellist. We're playing this piece along with Jupiter and Mars and I feel very honored to be playing these pieces. This one is very challenging and different from the others. I like it.

[kekedream]

Uranus: The Magician, The Joker, The Jester. Love it!

[kidkoffee]

Uranus: definitive answer to "funniest joke ever."
...and the colon was intentional.

[CardboardWindowExe]

congratulations, you are a teenager who enjoys a great piece, here is your "I'm special" medal, this is of the highest honor.

[ziggyhfx]

I love how epic it is at 4:20 its like Holst knew what he was doing.

[vladskiobi]

Mercury: fast and frantic
Venus: serene and calm (not like Venus at all, really)
Mars: violent and angry (again, not really much like Mars)
Jupiter: triumphant and grand
Saturn: eerie and depressing
Uranus: magical, yet chaotic and maniacal
Neptune: mysterious and trippy

[TheDoubleA]

The music when one totally commits to his immagination, unleashing all the images and scenarios his mind can conjure without fear or restrain...

[IronMortality]

I would complain that Uranus always seems to be the butt of jokes, but that's beneath me.

[clahambowl]

all jokes aside i really love this piece ;'' especially around 4:15 where it sounds like someone just dragged their feet across 50 pianos at once

[candinha]

First time I listened to it, I felt I was in a circus: full of colors and agitation, with a powerful magician pulling clowns out of his pointy hat!