Composer honoured with planetarium experience

Holst is regarded as one of the most iconic, influential and innovative composers of the 20th Century

A university honoured the 150th birthday of Gustav Holst with a planetarium experience in his hometown.

The famous composer was born in Cheltenham on 21 September 1874, and is best known for his orchestral suite, The Planets.

The University of Gloucestershire hosted Holst Spaceship Earth on 18 and 19 October, a 360° immersive experience in a five-metre high planetarium, in celebration of Holst's legacy.

Holst Spaceship Earth was created in partnership with the Holst Birthplace Trust and the PlayLa.bZ research institute.

Holst Spaceship Earth features multi-dimensional projections, Virtual Reality experiences, soundscapes, student-created content, and an exclusive premiere of new music elements, "The Transit of Venus".

Students from the University of Gloucestershire also helped create Holst Spaceship Earth, with BA sound and music production student Ben Springall recording Holst's personal piano.

MSc Sound and Music Production student Manu Agarwal recorded 360 videos of the Holst Victorian House, where Holst was born, composed spatial music inspired by The Planets, and layered the music with VR videos.

Supported by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, Holst Spaceship Earth is "a contemporary reimagining of peace, wellbeing, equality, nature".

It includes concepts around climate awareness as well as inclusive community ideas, all through the legacy and enlightening artistic vision of Gustav Holst.

Animation students, such as Beth Hands, attended a workshop delivered by James Edward Marks in the making of the planetarium

Laura Kinnear, curator at the Holst Victorian House, said: “It’s been wonderful working with the University on the Holst 150 project.

"The students have brought such a different dynamic to Holst’s music and legacy, producing innovative and exciting ideas to challenge our perception of this famous composer.

“We can’t wait to share these creative responses with the community at the dome, enabling them to think about Holst in a new way and appreciate the incredible skills and talents of the young people involved.”