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Theme from “Jupiter”

$4.95

Tamsin Dearnley has arranged “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s The Planets for solo lever or pedal harp. Included are three versions: an intermediate-level solo; a slightly simplified early-intermediate version with fingering suggestions; and a version in a congregational-friendly key for accompanying the hymn tune “I Vow to Thee, My Country.” Scroll down for additional notes.

This piece is available as a PDF download for $4.50 and includes all versions.

Pages to print: 6 pgs.

Note: This piece is formatted for A4 paper size; use the settings in your printer dialog box to get the best fit for your paper size.

Description

Note from the arranger

This majestic melody is probably the best-known part of one of Holst’s most-loved works: the stately middle section of “Jupiter” from The Planets suite. Holst wrote his orchestral suite of seven pieces between 1914 and 1917 and it premiered in September 1918, shortly before the end of the first world war. Holst had a great interest in astrology which was the starting point for the subject material. As he allegedly had trouble composing large scale works such as symphonies, he found the idea of creating shorter “mood paintings” appealing. The stately “Jupiter” theme is also well-known as the melody to the patriotic hymn “I Vow to Thee, My Country” by Cecil Spring Rice. The words and music were first put together in 1921, and when Vaughan Williams included the hymn in his Songs of Praise in 1926, the tune was given the name “Thaxted” after the English village where Holst lived for much of his life.