Who wrote The Planets?

Who wrote The Planets?

• A. Dvorak
• B. Beethoven
• C. Mussorgsky
• D. Holst

Answer: (D)

Recognizing the composer of a famous orchestral suite that personifies the planets is what this question tests. Gustav Holst, an English composer from the early 20th century, wrote The Planets as a seven-movement suite between 1914 and 1917. Each movement is named after a planet and conveys a distinct mood or character, like Mars the Bringer of War and Venus the Bringer of Peace, moving through Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The piece is celebrated for its inventive orchestration and its emphasis on musical atmosphere and character rather than narrative. The other composers listed—Dvořák, Beethoven, and Mussorgsky—are known for different masterpieces, not this suite. So Holst is the correct answer.

Recognizing the composer of a famous orchestral suite that personifies the planets is what this question tests. Gustav Holst, an English composer from the early 20th century, wrote The Planets as a seven-movement suite between 1914 and 1917. Each movement is named after a planet and conveys a distinct mood or character, like Mars the Bringer of War and Venus the Bringer of Peace, moving through Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The piece is celebrated for its inventive orchestration and its emphasis on musical atmosphere and character rather than narrative. The other composers listed—Dvořák, Beethoven, and Mussorgsky—are known for different masterpieces, not this suite. So Holst is the correct answer.