Gustav Holst's The Planets Suite was performed at the Proms in London last
night.  This is a favorite of audiences here and is played regularly over
the years at the Proms.  Last night however, there was a difference.  Holst
composed the Planets at a time when Neptune was known to be the last
Planet.  Therefore, Neptune ends his composition.

Not so last night:  Another planet, Pluto, has now been added.  This is a
composition by Colin Matthews and was designed to fit into the structure
of the suite as created by Holst.  It is played without interruption from
within the fading bars of Neptune.

The attempt is admirable, but of course, the voice is not Holst.  It
could never be.  Colin Matthews approach is much more contemporary to our
time, and so Pluto brings a more esoteric end to the entire Suite whilst
extending the ethereal quality of Holst's ending in Neptune.  This suits
the mood of the entire work the best.  Pluto does not feel out of place,
and it definitely bears hearing again.  The question is:  Will Pluto become
a permanent fixture at performances of The Planets?

Another question to members of the list, one on a light-hearted note:  What
other works in CM are open ended such that it could accept an addition in
the way Pluto was added to the Planets?

Philip Jongeneel
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