Gustav Holst conducts The Planets (recorded in 1926) (vinyl: Ortofon SPU, Graham Slee, CTC 301)

[@helenisla5452]

I am crying tears of joy 🥹

[@darrencolt5955]

I've read all of the comments, and clearly none of the commentors has had much, if any exposure to early electrical recordings. To put it simply, this is a fabulous recording of a symphony orchestra for 1926!!

[@sergiocampanale3882]

This is a rare treat! Like many here I have always loved 'The Planets', not least because as a fan of film music it is fun to spot just how much of classic film scoring derives its language directly from this seminal score going right up into the present day. Having just recently watched the 1979 'The Black Hole' again it hits you that much of John Barry's score riffs on the motifs of 'Saturn' (or is that just me hearing it?) Anyway, Holst directing this himself is a very special special indeed, especially from a 'prehistoric' recording that still sounds so essential today almost a century later. Thank you for sharing.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thank you for your comment Sergio! I've never heard the music from 'The Black Hole', but I know what you mean about Holst's music influencing film music composers. This performance is, as you say, very special. It's always good to hear a composer's take on his own music!

[@martincook318]

This is Gustav Holst Second Recording off the Score and I heard his earlier 1923 Acoustic Recording again Recorded by the Columbia Gramophone Limited and this one the 1926 Recording is far better and it was Through Radio Broadcasting that Electrical Recordings came about and both Record Sets were Originally were Recorded at 80rpm whilst His Master's Voice Records were Recorded at 78rpm and it wasn't till 1929 that all Columbia Records were Recorded at 78rpm two years before the Merger with His Master's Voice that (EMI)Came about Electrical and Music industry's

[@musizieren9267]

Thank you very much for your valuable source. It was heard pleasantly.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

You are very welcome!

[@Tachy_Bunker]

This is great! And he makes them go so much faster than today, which is great, love composers who like fast and epic (and more pronounded ritardando).

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comment. It's been suggested that Holst's tempi here might come from the restrictions of the 78rpm sides. But this is definitely a good listen as a historical document.

[@Tachy_Bunker]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl i thought about this possibility too, yeah. But it's great this way normally too haha i love faster music

[@1990pommie]

incredible.?? amazing to consider his brain had this. ONES I,Q, has added 2 points imo after listening to this outstanding work.

[@hootenhtn]

When William Steinberg recorded The Planets for DG in the early 70's with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he had never conducted it anywhere else previous. Hearing this, I have a real gut feeling that Steinberg must had used Holst's recording here as his reference, for only Steinberg, to the best of my knowledge, has recorded "Mars" as fast and exciting as Holst himself does here.

[@ronaldothomejunior3702]

Shostakovich and Holst were the First headbangers EVER \o/ Just listen how fast Mars sound!

[@samanthafera4755]

YAAAAAAAAA! HEAAAAAVY MUSIC FOOOOOOOREVER!!! MARS INSPIRED THE SONG "BLACK SABBATH" LET THE METAAAL FLOOOOOW!!!

[@horseshoehimself]

Guitars didn’t even exist back then.

[@nigelmasters8552]

I have been surprised Bob by the clarity of the 1926 transfer onto vinyl and also the speed at which the first movement was taken. I have half a dozen recordings of this music, my favourite being Leopold Stokowski conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Music For Pleasure. MFP2134. Worth a listen if you get the chance.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I haven't heard the Stokowski version - this is the 1958 Capitol recording isn't it? As far as the tempi go in Holst's own version I think the time limitations of a 78rpm side might have something to do with it. The sound does scrub up remarkably well. I've got the first recording of Walton's 1st Symphony on LP which I may put up at some point - the LSO are playing right on the edge on this one in places!

[@nigelmasters8552]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl I went back and checked but there isn't anything on the sleeve or record to say what recording it was. Keep em' coming Bob, lovely stuff!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

MFP2014? Here's the master page at Discogs www.discogs.com/Leopold-Stokowski-Conducting-The-Los-Angeles-Philharmonic-Orchestra-And-Womens-Voices-Of-The-Roger-W/master/266926 . I've so much I could upload! I did think about a non-video upload - just sound and a still image of the sleeve. It would be less work, but goes against the grain. But I don't really expect people to sit and stare at the record going round for half an hour! A shorter video on my other channel, maybe. Who knows??

[@tobymummert3035]

I must be missing something. What do you mean by the clarity of the 1926 transfer onto vinyl when it comes to this LP?

[@1mctous]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Mars took 6'00" under Holst's baton which wouldn't fit onto 1 12" 78 rpm side at anything near normal cutting levels. HMV's classical 78's seldom ran past 4'30" (e. g. the Edwin Fischer Mozart 20th Piano Concerto) and usually ran closer to 4'00" per side.

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

Wow. I have a triple CD set with all the recordings made by Gustav Holst (Actually the only Discogs user that has it, it seems), but I don't have this on vinyl. Added to my wish list. "The Planets", and particularly "Mars" and "Jupiter" is one of my all-time favorite symphonic pieces. Thank you so much for this great addition to your channel, Bob!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments, Alvaro! This is a terrific record, isn't it? I have many recordings of The Planets on vinyl and CD and this is definitely one of my favourites, alongside Bout's 1979 EMI recording and a 1993 CD on the RPO/Tring label with Vernon Handley.

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl The other versions I have aside from the CD set I already mentioned are the by the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by William Steinberg (vinyl), Montreal Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Dutoit (vinyl) and London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Geoffrey Simon (CD). And I must add this one. I had both the Steinberg and Dutoit versions in my old channel.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@NothingLikeVinyl There's also Mehta's Los Angeles Decca to consider. So many good recordings to choose from!

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl I will check it out. Thank you, Bob!

[@davidrussell6144]

My grandfather had a recording of this record of this recording before He passed away this sounds like good music very good thanks for the great sound

[@spencersmith2798]

Beyond fine.

[@SwingBandHeaven]

I've been listening to this one on and off over the past few days and have enjoyed it so much I went out and bought the LP (thanks ebay!). I have some of the 78's but it is nice to hear the LP version taken from the masters so there is no distortion.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comment! I'm pleased you've found your own copy of this - it's a great historical document ;o)

[@SwingBandHeaven]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl It certainly is. I've recently bought a copy of the Boston Symphony orchestra conducted by Adrian Boult playing The Planets Suite recorded from the live broadcast in 1946. There are some uploads on you tube of this but they are all dreadful quality. It has never (as far as I am aware) been commercially issued and whilst not unique my disks are certainly very rare as they were recorded by direct line on to two 16" lacquer disks so the best quality are are likely to get of this performance. The disks came from the archive of Rudy Vallee and are in pristine condition although the recording does suffer from some blasting in places but then some of the Planets have such a wide dynamic range they must be a real challenge to capture. Although my you tube page has been dormant for a long time I am going to be uploading this live concert so that it can be appreciated by a wider audience than just me.

[@fyvewytches]

@@SwingBandHeaven I’d really love to hear your historical recording. Have you had time to put it up yet? I can’t find it! Thanks

[@SwingBandHeaven]

@@fyvewytches I haven't had an opportunity to put it up yet. The transfer from the original 16" acetate disks has been done and its been declicked and is ready from an audio point of view but I need to put together a video to present it. Hopefully very soon. Your prompting will help stir me into action on this as it is a project that has sat around for far too long.

[@fyvewytches]

@@SwingBandHeaven That's great, thank you so much!!

[@notaire2]

Spannende Interpretation dieses einzigartigen Meisterwerks mit gut artikulierten und perfekt synchronisierten Töne aller Instrumente. Der unvergleichliche Komponist/Dirigent leitet das ausgezeichnete Orchester im relativ schnellen Tempo und möglichst effektiver Dynamik. Die Tonqualität ist auch erstaunlich hoch als eine Aufnahme von mehr als neunzig Jahre vor. Danke für die präzise Reproduktion dieser wertvolle Aufnahme!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Sie haben Recht! Das hört sich bemerkenswert gut für sein Alter an!

[@notaire2]

Stimmt! Der Zustand der Aufnahme ist unglaublich ausgezeichnet.

[@brianaltham1015]

Such an interesting recording. The speed of Mars surprised me but I suppose the conductor should know! Thank you.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments. A possible reason for the speed of Mars maybe to do with the limitations of the 78rpm sides - set the tempo to get it all in! If that really was the speed Holst had set for Mars then Adrian Boult - who was there right at the work's beginning - would almost certainly have adopted it I think. But this is certainly an interesting recording.

[@tobymummert3035]

Hey Bob! My favorite version of Holst-The Planets is the Leonard Bernstein conducting The New York Philharmonic on CBS Masterworks. (At least it is for now and has been for many,many years!) Maybe someday I will hear another version I will enjoy more. Don't get me wrong, this is a very nice choice on this video. Thanks! Keep the videos coming! :):)

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

A composer's own interpretations are nearly always insightful, but I wouldn't like this as my only "Planets"! I have 13 different versions - only 5 on vinyl - but not Bernstein's (yet!).

[@tobymummert3035]

@@ClassicsAndVinylYeah, that's like me with Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. I have no idea how many multiple copies combined with different conductors orchestras with those two pieces of wonderful music! I also love Stravinsky's Rite of Spring! I have to have at least six or seven different renditions of that piece as well. When it comes to collecting music, particularly vinyl, I'm a music lover first and then a vinyl lover second. I love all kinds of music except for that dreaded Rap/Hip Hop stuff. If someone loves that, it's perfectly fine but I personally do not recognize it as any kind of form of music. Anyway, I really enjoy your channels and exchanging comments with you! Keep up the good work, Bob!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@tobymummert3035 What's your opinion on Mercury's stereo 1812? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4XHp5eaoqmBiNU My ultimate collecting obsession is for the 1st Symphony of William Walton. I must have over 20 performances to choose from. Is there a self-help group to deal with that level of music collecting?!

[@tobymummert3035]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl I hope not!

[@samanthafera4755]

Thank you so much! I'm really enjoying this!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comment! This is quite a disc isn't it - a time capsule almost!

[@dr.estevarena4143]

This music wtiten in 1926 was the music of all 50 years later science fiction movies. This fact is science fiction itself.

[@martincook318]

The Music was written in 1918 and this Recording which is Holst Second Recording was Recorded in 1926 for the Columbia Gramophone Company Ltd and I've got a copy of this Recording and it was Reissued in the 1970's by EMI-HMV-Treasury

[@martincook318]

Having got a copy of this LP Recording from the 1970's and taken from the Original 1926 Columbia Record Set I found the this Transfer to be Remarkable good and its so nice to hear the Composer play his own Music:and the Recording was Transferred to C-D but I found the LP Transfer from the 1970's to be far better as the C-D Transfer sounded to tinny whereas the LP Transfer from the 1970's had a lot more Bass in the Recording Mainly due to the Engineers at(EMI)and Some of these Historical Recordings like this one are Remarkable Good and the Record Number is HLM-7014 and there is another Composer Recording in the HMV Treasury Serious and that is the famous 1932 Recording of the Elgar Violin Concerto Played by a 16 year old Yehudi Menuhin and a 75 year old Sir Edward Elgar and again with the London Symphony Orchestra Record Number HLM-7107 and the Recording of the Elgar Violin Concerto is also available on His Master's Voice Record Number ALP-1456 and I've got Several copies of that Recording even on the Original Pre war 78rpm Record set in the Pre war album on His Master's Voice and there is two More Sir Edward Elgar LP'S Reissued in the HMV Treasury Serious and this year Mark's the 90th Anniversary of the Death of Sir Edward Elgar:Who Recorded for His Master's Voice:Frederick Delius who never Recorded his own Music and Gustav Holst who Recorded for the Columbia Gramophone Company which was along with His Master's Voice was to become Part of the EMI Group.

[@eldflaug3770]

thank you for this good information!

[@UnknownUser-em3sx]

Amazing spirit!! 🇷🇺

[@ThomasTVP]

Holst was not a professional conductor, he was unable to vary a tempo during a movement and did everything too fast. A few attempts have been made to come close to Holst's tempi, the most successful being Vladimir Jurowski's LSO Live account. Generally, I prefer more flexible and relaxes tempi in this work, like the ones adopted by Sir Charles Groves in his mid-1980s version, which is my favourite of the 70+ versions available.

[@MahlBruckner8]

During a frenzy of study and Planets collecting (75?)before hearing an LA Phil. perf. I recall enjoying Jurowski LPO having abundant character- Jupiter was truly jolly! as well as Grove's. When I forgot it was being conducted, as was just springing to life in a natural way, it was a richly satisfying experience. Yes, Holst pushed the tempi- limit of recording time? The rall. at the end of Mars is too often ignored. Wonderful sound for 1926. I'm attending a SF symphony performance with Daniel Harding tomorrow night. Oh that Davies Symphony Hall organ should add a rich color.

[@tobymummert3035]

Bob! You nailed it with this one! I love Holst The Planets! It's one of my all-time favorites! Thank you for doing this! Keep up the good work Bob because you are the man!...... Just a little curious though, I have the Telarc 1812 Overture. I actually have 2 different copies of it. I don't know why but one is pressed in Germany and the other is pressed in Japan but they are both Telarc. I have a bunch of vinyl records on Telarc. What I am curious about is would any of your equipment track that particular record properly? When the cannon shots are fired and the record Groove goes wacky and the stylus will not stay in the groove of course, do you have any equipment that would maintain tracking and not pop out of the groove on the record like that?

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I might do another Planets performance sometime (I have a lot to choose from!) - a shame Telarc didn't record it. I do have a few Telarc LPs - one from back in the day (the Tchaikovsky 4th on my other channel), and three recent pressings, including the 1812. My Ortofon Xpression seems to track that just fine at 2.6gm VTF. I'll do a video of this at some point, but I've another 1812 video due for release very soon - keep a look out for it here (and there'll an associated video on my other channel too).

[@tobymummert3035]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl I just looked into the Telarc Holst The Planets on vinyl LP and it was recorded and released on vinyl LP from Germany in 1986 on Telarc.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@tobymummert3035 That had escaped my attention! Looking on discogs it seems it was never issued on vinyl.

[@jeanesingsjazz]

nice to hear his preferred tempos in relation to the other conductors. i personally prefer to hear Mars at a slightly slower tempo.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments. Quite possibly the time limitations of a 78rpm side had something to do with the quick tempo of Mars. Have a look at the sleeve notes by Holst's daughter Imogen - scanned on my blog page: musicandvinyl.blogspot.com/2019/04/gustav-holst-conducts-planets.html?view=flipcard

[@1mctous]

Wind playing has markedly improved since 1926 unless the London SO had an unusually bad day. The intonation in Mars is downright painful: the brass go sharp as the woodwinds go flat!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I wonder how many takes were made? Modern editing would have helped too!

[@edwardnowill4408]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Inspite of the faults pointed out by Martin I still enjoy this performance for its rhythmic drive & energy.Many early twentieth century performances have artifacts painful to modern ears.Musicians rotated between orchestras,rehearsal times were short etc etc I understand [Tulley potter ICRC]-Garrard 301 & ortofon moving coil pickup,this is as good as it gets.My Columbia set of 78s does not have the reverberation on this Lp reissue.It was believed that a "dry "acoustic in the studio promoted clarity of reproduction in a domestic setting- - - -Something I have not understood,on my grey 301 12 inch Lp disks come right to the edge of the turntable,here turntable appears to be oversize & without rubber mat.

[@edwardnowill4408]

Aha ,this is a modern Garrard 301,I hadn't realised that the design had been slightly changed

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@edwardnowill4408 Thanks for your comments! The platter here is oversized (and I've now replaced it with a much heavier brass one) and it does use a mat BTW! For all its faults this is a fascinating performance, and while today's digital techniques might produce a better transfer if you can "tune out" the surface noise it's a good listen as well!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@edwardnowill4408 It's one of these: www.classichifi-shop.co.uk/product/classic-301-hammertone-20/ but now with CTC's brass platter (see my later videos), and I also use their power supply. SME have recently started to produce the 301 again - at a price!

[@dion1949]

Wow. He takes Mars really fast.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

There are suggestions that this may be have been due to the time limitations of 78rpm record sides. I've no idea if this correct though.

[@martincook318]

What I can't Understand is why did it take for [EMI]To wait until the 1970's before Reissuing this Historical 1926 Recording as I thought the 1950's would have surfishent as [EMI]was already Reissuing Dinu Lipatti from the 1940's and Dinu Lipatti Died on Saturday December 2nd 1950 aged 33

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I wish I could answer that! I don't know what audio restoration techniques were available in the 1970s but today's digital technology could probably improve on this 1972 record.

[@canman5060]

Holst himself doesn't like this recording because it sounds like 'Charlie Chaplin' !

[@bovineking8927]

Saturn in most recordings: Literal pounding horns of death Saturn here: Charlie Chaplin