Suite from The Planets by Gustav Holst/arr. Johnnie Vinson

[@MollyMaroney-i4e]

So many people confusing a middle/low high school grade adaptation for the original. Y'all, this was written to be accessible to less experienced players. This piece with only the 3 movements involved is already almost 5 minutes. Doing a transcription of the whole suite would take close to 20 if not longer - most less experienced players would greatly struggle playing a piece that's 20 minutes long, even in sections. This is not trying to replace the full suite, it's literally just allowing less experienced players to engage with some excellent music that they otherwise wouldn't be able to, either A. ever, or B. until they got into a much higher level of ensemble, which for most musicians won't actually happen. Put your noses down and appreciate that quality literature can be made accessible by simplifying and editing while still providing the experience of playing a classic. Also for many smaller schools, regardless of playing level, they don't have the full score worth of players to be able to play the original, even if they were at that playing level. Flex arrangements allow smaller programs to still play quality music. Just sit down and if it's not an arrangement you enjoy, then simply don't program it for your group.

[@nsruelmusic8906]

Hi band director and composer here. Some people don’t seem to understand that by writing a more simplified version of a popular piece (or set of pieces in this case) that it allows musicians who might not get the chance otherwise to play and appreciate this music. So many of you are being overly critical of the choices that were made in simplifying the original music without having any experience actually teaching middle or high school students music in a realistic setting. As a newer middle school band director who is trying to rebuild a program after Covid…arrangements like this are a blessing and easy way to get my students connected to the original source material in an accessible and achievable way. Y’all need to stop being so pompous and arrogant about this. Remember what the purpose of these arrangements are and that they serve a very good purpose and do it well.

[@PaulPime]

People are entitled to their own opinions. You need to respect that and stop being so sensitive. You using being a band director and composer to make your point is extremely immature. I suggest you keep to yourself and stay quiet or mature up.

[@MH-il1lk]

​@FloppityFloppify You didn't get the point lol. You juveniles

[@pizzadogebrawlstars]

⁠@@PaulPimefalsely calling someone immature to prove a point is an example of immaturity itself. people can have their own opinions but shouldnt try to bring hate to the creator of this arrangement

[@superior_nobody07]

@@PaulPime likewise, people are entitled to call out replies that clearly have no idea what the original comment was talking about, and that clearly are saying nothing, such as yours.

[@kben101]

Playing Part 5 with Mars from 00:00- 1:25 was a challenge for me because we didn't have a tuba player last year

[@alannahmurray5736]

I play in my band and I love it!! Especially part 4. I play the Tenor Sax. Mars is my favorite and the ending.

[@gaugecheeks]

I play tenor too me personally my fav is Jupiter at 88 to the end

[@joekillian3739]

Jupiter has to be my favorite movement from this selection. Played this last year in my freshman concert band and it’s absolutely gorgeous. 10/10 would recommend.

[@BTTF806]

We have to play this and so I turned to you for this! Thanks oh and I also LOVE your Back To The Future theme!

[@drumsforlife]

If anyone wanted proof that classical people are snobs, look no further than these comments! As someone who loves classical music myself and plays in a concert band full of retired people who will never get much better than they are now, I don't find anything particularly wrong with this arrangement. Is it such a sin to play dumbed-down arrangements of favorite music? We perform for free and our audiences seem to dig what we do.

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

They took a lovely piece and made it almost unbearable. That is worthy of harsh criticism.

[@jayj4142]

@@JuanSanchezGuerra Yep. I grow extremely weary of played this watered-down s*** that passes for “mUsIc.” I want to play the original friggin” parts, AS HOLST WROTE THEM - not some idiot’s “idea” of what Holst “should’ve” written.

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

@@jayj4142 I have the same plight, unfortunately. Some say that a flex-band does not have the capabilities to perform the real deal, but I say, give them good music, and they will be inspired to play.

[@jayj4142]

@@JuanSanchezGuerraYeah, the people that say that are elitist a**holes. We’re good enough to play most arrangements of most music, so…yeah. Screw those people. lol

[@danellewilbraham]

@@jayj4142 At best, you’re playing his arrangement of an orchestration of a work originally scored for four hand piano. Pretty hard to play col legno on a wind instrument. Holst only arranged Mars and Jupiter for concert band. Any other movement and it is literally impossible to play what Holst wrote.

[@dennyduranflores]

Finally! I've been waiting two months for this to come out! XD

[@dennyduranflores]

I thought I commented it, but this was a disappointment.

[@그저팽귄]

I like 3:20. You too?

[@JohnSmith-ep1vu]

I'm playing this for band soon. Never realized how much hate it gets lol.

[@take_flight515]

Same 😂😂😂

[@shannonsmith297]

❤❤❤❤ ❤ ❤❤❤

[@canalbandashow]

*Muito bom*

[@JPOP2010]

This is amazing!

[@rumblenskirmish]

3:10 (footnote for myself)

[@alisoncardinall3163]

Yes. Thank you for writing the Planets without Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune. Truly what the world needed. And don't give me the "it's simplified for beginner bands" speech because one is perfectly capable of writing a decent arrangement for beginner band with exerpts from all of the movements.

[@jello_sauce]

Alison Cardinall Yeah, but these are the most popular ones. That's still no excuse, though. Maybe there will be one for the others? (I really hope one for Neptune! The one for Mercury might be too oversimplified, though.)

[@BariSaxGuy]

I don't know of any Planets medley that has other movements besides these. While the other movements are amazing (the whole work is), they are too difficult to arrange for concert band/wind ensemble at any level. James Curnow arranger Jupiter and even did a transcription of Uranus, but the other movements have such specialized orchestration that it wouldn't translate well to wind only orchestration.

[@dekomposer]

Tokyo Kosei did a really good transcription of the full suite. But I must admit there would be very very very few high school bands capable of playing all movements.

[@BariSaxGuy]

really? I didn't know that. Do you know if that version is available for purchase? I would LOVE to own and study that arrangement!

[@dekomposer]

BariSaxGuy the thing is I only saw the recording but can’t find the scores ;-;

[@derpycatdraws]

i am playing this in grade 6 with all due respect this song is bipolar and im so here for it

[@alexgrant440]

If you are scared for your life because you have to play this for an honors wind band clap your hands! *Claps*

[@jamirgordon9745]

I can understand why some people hate it but like my band doesn’t have a lot of people and this is definitely good for us plus we’re only in Highschool. 😭

[@caraserbentas6979]

it is so odd hearing an arrangement after hearing the original

[@pasta_eeee]

One of these was in bluey

[@그저팽귄]

Wow my best music very good. and I like 3:20

[@rhj0485]

Oh, me too 팽돌이님

[@samanthafabian2646]

Me too!❤️

[@FerlingPracticer]

I wish the low brass part had triplets like the woodwinds, someone should make a slightly higher grade arrangement just for that lol

[@marlenemcintosh1096]

Nice

[@oliviapetrowski4553]

Shoutout to my band director, Matthew Walter Harvey’s favorite piece at 3:20, Jupiter!

[@Monkeys_are_cool_]

Douglass claudious for me

[@Velepexon]

If I didn't hear te breathing and background noises, I would've thought this was MIDI Also, this sounds really weird... Not because of the results, because of the notation... I dunno...

[@evacoens5697]

The key is very simplified, so that's probably what you're hearing. Listen to the original, it's one of my favorite pieces!

[@misionero3000]

RIP.

[@chrissadventuresinlife3584]

2x speed so weird XD

[@omeganik]

There is a reason why the original was written how it was. Arrangements should not mean simplifications.

[@superior_nobody07]

You expect an elementary/middle school level flex band to play the original?

[@CIAJ6]

3:20

[@emily2734-g8c]

I love all the hate comments #SkinnyLegend

[@Gemelos18Vasquez]

This song is from bluey

[@Just_Loveing_Life]

No Buley took the OG one

[@dedede5586]

mars is eh but the rest are pretty good

[@tonylinden3819]

As horrifying as the orchestration is, this *is* a flex=band arrangement. That being said, what the hell where they thinking with this transcription, there's no meat to anything and it just sounds forced, even though it's designed for a younger level. Save the Planets for when your band is ready for the real deal and save your time by purchasing something that will actually sound good to your audience and ensemble.

[@emily2734-g8c]

Tony Linden you said “what the hell where they thinking it’s “what the hell WERE they thinking.”

[@jaratechild335]

let me drop some knowledge. 1. this isn’t made for orchestra. it’s made for wind ensemble 2. don’t be condescending

[@superior_nobody07]

in what world do you expect a flex band to ever have the players or the ability to play anything close to the original. Obviousdly you understand what a flex band is, so you should know that felx band arrangments exist to give ensembles that cant play the original a chance to play something along its lines. Gatekeeping good music is how you lose a generation of musicians.

[@notso_greatnate8690]

The professional that had to record this were probably triggered

[@user-uh4bh4fy8p]

NotSo_ GreatNate it’s made on a computer

[@diom00]

@@user-uh4bh4fy8p its not tho

[@emily2734-g8c]

Peace and love peace and love I want the cheese for breakfast

[@TheMarcHicks]

I have heard better arrangements than this one, to be honest.

[@blazerivers3000]

Marcus Hicks the transitions are abrupt and the melodies are incredibly watered down

[@siniestroelite2131]

Its called grade 2

[@norahkelly8814]

you didn’t have to share your opinion, it’s just a flex piece and it’s pretty cool to play with a band who needs a fuller sound. life’s really fun when you stay positive. also it’s good for bands who want something fun and easy to read for a week after we’ve just gotten back from quarantine!

[@jaratechild335]

this was made for small concert bands with like 10-20 people, as well as school bands with younger ensembles dumbass

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

@@norahkelly8814 I've also played this for flex-band, and it is an insult to the original. It is poorly-articulated, and lacking the majesty of the original. Save the best music for the best players, do not make these disgraces!

[@faroutman1516]

They literally murdered the planets. What the actual hecc.

[@ckarav9920]

This is a really poor example of orchestration. The percussion and the adapted string motive are especially awful. I have never been a fan of this composer's orchestration in general, even in his original compositions

[@mr.klunee4103]

It's flex-band, so it's limited to only have 5 unique parts. I'm not a huge fan of this arrangement but making flex-band sound good is very hard to do.

[@BariSaxGuy]

this has to be the worst arrangement I have ever heard.......hard to believe people pay money for this stuff!

[@sfmdude568]

That because for some bands, this is their only means of playing it. Especially in the year 2020.

[@motis1837]

Weak! It lacks intensity in spots where the original tends to overdue some stuff. And to completely gloss over the Euphonium solos is an atrocity. And I’m not just saying this because I play euphonium,

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

Thank you! They might as well have killed the soul of Mars. A s a flute player, I can not forgive this arrangement for stripping away all out interesting runs and gizmos in Jupiter.