Cultural Influence of Astrology - Music

Music

The most famous piece of music to be influenced by astrology is undoubtedly the orchestral suite The Planets. Written by the British composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934), and first performed in 1918, the framework of The Planets is based upon the astrological symbolism of the planets. Each of the seven movements of the suite is based upon a different planet as follows:

• First: Mars, the Bringer of War
• Second: Venus, the Bringer of Peace
• Third: Mercury, the Winged Messenger
• Fourth: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
• Fifth: Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
• Sixth: Uranus, the Magician
• Seventh: Neptune, the Mystic

The order of the movements does not follow the order of the planets from the Sun. However, in keeping with its astrological themes, they do reflect the order of the signs of the zodiac by planetary rule. The composer and Holst specialist Colin Matthews wrote an eighth movement entitled "Pluto, the Renewer", which was first performed in 2000. However, with Pluto's recategorization to dwarf planet status by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, Holst's original work is now as complete as when he wrote it.

In 1937, another British composer, Constant Lambert, wrote a ballet on astrological themes, called Horoscope. The full score was lost in the Netherlands in the Second World War but some excerpts survive:

• "Palindromic Prelude"
• "Dance for the Followers of Leo"
• "Saraband for the Followers of Virgo"
• "Man's Variation"
• "Woman's Variation"
• "Bacchanale"
• "Valse for the Gemini"
• "Pas de Deux"
• "Invocation to the Moon and Finale".

In 1974, the New Zealand composer Edwin Carr wrote The Twelve Signs for wind, brass, piano, harp and percussion.