Dr. Paula Holcomb directs the Fredonia Wind Ensemble on the Harry A. King Concert Hall stage.
Join the SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble on Saturday, Feb. 28, for a performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”
The concert at 8 p.m. in King Concert Hall is free and open to the public.
From the driving intensity of ‘Mars’ to the mysticism of ‘Neptune,’ you’ll hear textures and harmonic language that echo through rock, film scores and beyond -- music that will transport you across decades and into the far reaches of the universe.” Dr. Paula Holcomb
Composed between 1914 and 1917, “Planets” has influenced generations of composers across film, classical and popular music. Its sweeping sonorities and bold orchestration helped shape the sound world of modern cinema. The ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Paula Holcomb, will perform Merlin Patterson’s powerful transcription of “The Planets.”
Notably, legendary filmmaker George Lucas encouraged composer John Williams to consider Holst’s work as a sonic reference point — an influence widely recognized in the musical language of “Star Wars” and their subsequent collaborations.
The orchestral suite has also crossed into progressive rock, most famously through English supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer, whose reimagining introduced Holst’s planetary soundscape to an entirely new audience.
“From the driving intensity of ‘Mars’ to the mysticism of ‘Neptune,’ you’ll hear textures and harmonic language that echo through rock, film scores and beyond — music that will transport you across decades and into the far reaches of the universe,” Dr. Holcomb said.
