Planets, The (Op. 32/H125), No. 3: Mercury, the Winged Messenger: Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

Writing it between 1914 and 1917, Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was initially inspired to compose THE PLANETS based on a conversation he had about astrology while on holiday in Spain with some friends in 1913. Intrigued by the concepts, he sought to write an orchestral suite for seven of these astrological signs based on the planets known to the world at the time and imbue the music with the appropriate astrological meaning. Rather than order the planets as an astronomer would, Holst ordered them in such a way as to attain maximum musical effectiveness. Scored for a large orchestra, fellow composer Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote in 1920, "Holst uses a very large orchestra in THE PLANETS not to make his score look impressive, but because he needs the extra tone color and knows how to use it." This critical edition of the "Mercury" movement by Clinton Nieweg is based on the composer's manuscript. Instrumentation: 2+2Picc.2+EH+BsOb.3+BCl.3+CBsn: 4.2.0.0: Timp.Perc(1): Hp(2).Clst: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).