Holst

Holst composed The Planets (1914–1916) as a seven-movement suite inspired by the astrological character of each planet, not its astronomical properties. "Mars, the Bringer of War," with its relentless 5/4 ostinato, has become one of the most recognizable and frequently imitated pieces in film scoring — its influence on John Williams's Star Wars score is unmistakable. "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" contains a hymn tune that became "I Vow to Thee, My Country," one of England's most beloved patriotic songs. Beyond The Planets, Holst composed a substantial body of work including the opera Savitri, the orchestral works Egdon Heath and the St. Paul's Suite, and numerous choral pieces. He was deeply influenced by Hindu philosophy and Sanskrit literature, unusual interests for an early 20th-century English composer. He was a close friend of Vaughan Williams, and the two regularly shared works-in-progress. Despite The Planets' popularity, Holst considered it "too easy to listen to" and preferred his more austere later works.