T H E S I L E N T P L A N E T
THE SILENT PLANET
THE SILENT PLANET
The Silent Planet: Mars (Clip) - Holst Recomposed by Stevens & Pound
The Silent Planet: Venus (Clip) - Holst Recomposed by Stevens & Pound
The Silent Planet: Mercury (Clip) - Holst Recomposed by Stevens & Pound
We gave the world premiere of The Silent Planet with the joint orchestras of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Royal Northern College of Music conducted by Clark Rundell
feat. Phoebe Hanson - a climate activist from Force of Nature in July 2024
"excellent musicianship on display from all involved..novel and thought-provoking"
Read 4.5* review here
“The enormity of the universe revealed by science cannot readily be grasped by the human brain, but the music of The Planets enables the mind to acquire some comprehension of the vastness of space where rational understanding fails."
Gustav Holst
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Stevens & Pound present an unprecedented collaboration with the youth-led global climate non-profit organisation, Force of Nature. Alongside members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Northern College of Music they give the world premiere of their new double percussion and harmonica/melodeon concerto and climate activist, conducted by Clark Rundell and orchestrated by Ian Gardiner.
E A R T H
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To mark Holst's 150th anniversary in 2024, Stevens & Pound reimagine his iconic Planets Suite - composing an additional movement which Holst chose to silence as "astrologically insignificant" - Earth. The piece platforms young climate activists from the international youth organisation Force of Nature giving key-note speeches accompanied by orchestral improvised soundscapes based on Holst's planetary characters such as Bringer of War or Bringer of Peace.
The additional movement Earth - co-written with Force of Nature - stresses the urgency of listening to our planet and amplifying unheard voices in the conversation around the climate.
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Stevens & Pound + Orchestra + Climate Activist
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Climate segue 1: “The Bringer of War” - how human conflict affects climate change
Mars*
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Climate segue 2: “The Bringer of Peace” - how human solutions affect climate change
Venus*​
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Climate segue 3: “The Winged Messenger” – the effect of climate change on birds & insects
Mercury*
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Climate segue 4: “The Bringer of Jollity” - the role of hope and activism in climate change
Jupiter*
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Earth: The Silent Planet - written by Stevens & Pound & Force of Nature
* Reimagined by Stevens & Pound/orchestrated by Ian Gardiner
NB: climate speeches are accompanied by improvised soundscapes devised by members of the orchestra in response to the speaker's text
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Composer/Soloist: Harmonica, Melodeon - Will Pound
Composer/Soloist: Percussion - Delia Stevens
Climate Activist: Phoebe Hanson, Force of Nature
Orchestrator: Ian Gardiner
Ensemble: 34-piece orchestra 2 (1+picc; 2+a.fl). 2 (2+Cor). 2 (2+b.cl). 2 (2+ cb) / 2.1 (+cornet).1.euph / H / 2P / 5.4.4.3.2
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Stevens & Pound + Climate Activist
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The Silent Planet can also be performed by Stevens & Pound as a duo: