IDAGIO | Holst: The Planets - R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra 5060946841797

Featuring

Edward Gardner
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus
Richard Strauss
Gustav Holst

Did you know?

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Compositional Technique

In 'Mars, the Bringer of War' from The Planets, Holst instructs string players to use the wood of their bows (col legno) to beat out rhythms, turning them into drums.

Recording & Production

This recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.

Cultural Impact

The majestic theme from Holst's 'Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity' is widely known today as 'I vow to thee, my country', though the lyrics were added years after its composition.

Composition History

Gustav Holst's The Planets was inspired by astrology, introduced to him by his friend Clifford Bax, rather than by the physical attributes of the planets.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Richard Strauss stated he did not intend to write philosophical music with Also sprach Zarathustra, but rather to convey the development of the human race up to Nietzsche's idea of the 'super human'.

Performer Biography

The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, founded in 1948, was recognized with The Queen's Medal for Music in 2012 and the Royal Philharmonic Society's Ensemble Award in 2016.

Cultural Impact

The opening two minutes of Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra became globally famous after being featured in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.