The Planets
Gustav Holst's large scale orchestral work The Planets is one of the most well known and popular orchestral suites of the 20th century. In 1996, the suite was transcribed for brass by composer / arranger Stephen Roberts at the request of James Watson, then Artistic Director of the Black Dyke Band. James subsequently recorded the transcription to great critical acclaim on the Doyen label later that year. Following touring performances by the Black Dyke Band the work was then performed by both the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and Massed Bands of Black Dyke and Canford Summer School Brass Bands under the direction of James Watson in 1997. Craig was a performer in the bands in both performances.
2008 Performances
In 2008, the brass transcription of The Planets became the central element on an exciting science and arts collaboration between Craig and prominent scientist Professor Mark Brake.
The orchestral original was first performed at London's Royal Albert Hall at a playthrough under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult in 1918. The brass project began with the desire for a performance of the work, in celebration of the 90th anniversary.
For the 2008 performance Craig and Professor Brake worked with Judi Hughes and RCT Cultural Services to create a unique presentation of the work, complete with full theatrical lighting, digital imagery and spoken presentations on each planet by Professor Brake.
The first performance took place at the 2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival and featured harpist Catrin Finch, Serendipity Choir, Parc & Dare Band and the symphonic brass of the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen & Stadtorchester Ravensburg of Germany.
Following the success of this first performance, additional engagements were later undertaken, in association with Hands On Science, at both the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and in the Reardon Smith Theatre of the National Museum of Wales with Burry Port Band.
In 2008, the brass transcription of The Planets became the central element on an exciting science and arts collaboration between Craig and prominent scientist Professor Mark Brake.
The orchestral original was first performed at London's Royal Albert Hall at a playthrough under the baton of Sir Adrian Boult in 1918. The brass project began with the desire for a performance of the work, in celebration of the 90th anniversary.
For the 2008 performance Craig and Professor Brake worked with Judi Hughes and RCT Cultural Services to create a unique presentation of the work, complete with full theatrical lighting, digital imagery and spoken presentations on each planet by Professor Brake.
The first performance took place at the 2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival and featured harpist Catrin Finch, Serendipity Choir, Parc & Dare Band and the symphonic brass of the Stadtkapelle Nurtingen & Stadtorchester Ravensburg of Germany.
Following the success of this first performance, additional engagements were later undertaken, in association with Hands On Science, at both the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and in the Reardon Smith Theatre of the National Museum of Wales with Burry Port Band.
2018 Performance
On the weekend of October 19th to 21st 2018, Craig directed large scale symphonic brass rehearsals and performance of the symphonic brass transcription of The Planets at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The instrumentation for the performance included 11 trumpets, flugel horn, 3 french horns, 4 euphoniums, 4 tubas plus 2 harps, organ, celeste, 8 timpani plus full orchestral percussion. Additional repertoire featured included R. Strauss: Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare (Arr. Himes), Holst: The Planets (Arr. Roberts) & Wagner: Entry of the Gods Into Valhalla (Arr. Snell).
Additional performances in 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1969 lunar landings, are currently in discussion
On the weekend of October 19th to 21st 2018, Craig directed large scale symphonic brass rehearsals and performance of the symphonic brass transcription of The Planets at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The instrumentation for the performance included 11 trumpets, flugel horn, 3 french horns, 4 euphoniums, 4 tubas plus 2 harps, organ, celeste, 8 timpani plus full orchestral percussion. Additional repertoire featured included R. Strauss: Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare (Arr. Himes), Holst: The Planets (Arr. Roberts) & Wagner: Entry of the Gods Into Valhalla (Arr. Snell).
Additional performances in 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1969 lunar landings, are currently in discussion
