Community orchestra presents ‘The Planets’
- Madison City Community Orchestra will present Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” at Madison United Methodist Church on Oct. 30. This painting by Sandy Sparks is among numerous ones in the silent auction. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – After many months of intense rehearsal, Madison City Community Orchestra (MCCO) will present its ambitious project in performing “The Planets” by English composer Gustav Holst.
Celebrating the centennial anniversary of Holst’s work, the orchestra and Madison Arts Council (MAC) will offer the concert on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Christian Life Center of Madison United Methodist Church, 127 Church St.
“The Planets, Op. 32” is a seven-movement orchestral suite that Holst composed between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named for a planet of the solar system and its corresponding astrological character. (wikipedia.com)
“The suite has been enduringly popular, influential, widely performed and frequently recorded,” MCCO Director Sandy Weisner said.
The movements are Mars, Bringer of War; Venus, Bringer of Peace; Mercury, Winged Messenger; Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician; and Neptune, the Mystic.
“Each movement is intended to convey ideas and emotions associated with the influence of the planets on the psyche, not the Roman deities that they are associated with today,” Weisner said.
“This concert is an amazing community effort with participating musicians from all over the area,” Weisner said. “In addition to MCCO’s performance of ‘The Planets’ complete works, we’ve asked for the community’s artistic interpretation of this masterpiece.”
“The Planets” arrangement involves all sections in the orchestra. “We currently have approximately 70 players to play for this event. It’s a massive orchestration,” Weisner said.
The instrumentation includes four flutes playing multiple parts; three oboes; English horn; four clarinets; three bassoons; contrabassoon; six F horns; four trumpets; three trombones; euphonium; tuba; percussion with six timpani, bass and snare drums, cymbals, triangle, tam-tam, tambourine, glockenspiel, xylophone, tubular bells; celesta and pipe organ; and two harps.
In addition, a silent auction will offer numerous items for bids. “One in particular is an amazing painting called ‘Heavenly Symphony’ by the talented local artist Sandy Sparks,” Weisner said. “We also have a three-foot model of the Saturn Five rocket still in the box.”
The concert is free but guests do need tickets. To reserve tickets, visit Eventbrite.com and click “Search” for Madison events.
