The Planets Cover Image

The Planets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

$62.00 USD
$62.00 USD
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The Planets Cover Image
The Planets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

The Planets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

By Gustav Holst / arr. Douglas E. Wagner

Grade: 2 (Easy)

Item: 00-30776
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Description
Gustav Holst has long been revered as a master composer. His work transcribes wonderfully for concert band. Douglas Wagner has chosen portions of The Planets to create a through-played medley for young band. Now accessible, the arrangement contains the themes from "Venus, the Bringer of Peace," "Mars, the Bringer of War" and " Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity." The best of Holst scores especially for your young band. (4:00) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, The Planets: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Belwin Young Band
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 240
ISBN10: 1-4706-5528-4
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-5528-0
UPC: 038081335889
SKU: 00-30776

More about this title

About the Creator: Gustav Holst; arranged by Douglas Wagner

Gustav Holst stands among the most important British composers of the twentieth century, though his reputation rests largely on a single orchestral work: The Planets, completed in 1916. Written during World War I, the suite explores astrology rather than astronomy, with each movement representing a planet's supposed astrological influence. Holst's orchestration is masterful and deeply theatrical, making The Planets one of the most performed and arranged classical works in existence.

Douglas Wagner brings the skill of a seasoned transcriber to this project, understanding exactly which themes translate to young band forces and how to maintain Holst's harmonic language while keeping the parts playable. Wagner has arranged works across multiple genres and levels, earning recognition for his ability to preserve a composer's intent while serving the specific needs of school musicians.

Why we love this

Three iconic themes in one continuous performance creates a concert moment that feels substantial without overwhelming a developing band. Students encounter genuine harmonic sophistication and orchestral color that belongs in a young band's musical diet, and the piece rewards careful listening while remaining achievable at this level.

What to expect

A journey from ethereal calm into martial drama and back toward exuberance. Holst's harmonic colors come through even in band scoring, creating moments of genuine beauty alongside moments of raw power.

Who it's for

Young bands exploring the concert band literature beyond contemporary teaching pieces. This works for middle school ensembles with solid fundamentals and beginning high school bands seeking meaningful masterwork arrangements.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the Venus theme with long-line phrasing rather than emphasizing individual measures; this meditative section sets the character for the entire piece.
  • Balance the Mars introduction between low brass and woodwinds so neither overshadows the other as tension builds.
  • Let Jupiter's famous "Bringer of Jollity" melody sing through with confident articulation; the buoyant character can support slightly more rhythmic definition here than in the opening movement.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a concert built around orchestral masterworks or planetary/celestial themes. At four minutes, it anchors a program without dominating it, and students gain exposure to a foundational work of the orchestral repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Sustaining long melodic lines with even tone and consistent support
  • Balancing ensemble sound across multiple simultaneous themes
  • Responding to dramatic shifts in harmonic color and density
  • Interpreting musical character through tempo and phrasing rather than technical complexity
  • Reading concert band scoring conventions (transpositions, doublings, sectional cues)

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