• Dimensions: 20″ diameter
  • Medium description: single sheet of cut acid-free paper
  • High resolution image

This papercutting is my depiction of the largest planet in our solar system, using music from Gustav Holst’s Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity, part of his orchestral Planets suite written between 1914-1917. Jupiter is transcribed for and frequently played by wind bands.

Holst’s stately Thaxted hymn runs across the center bands of the planet, surrounded by other more exuberant melodies and motifs to the north and south. At the poles are frenzied polyrhythmic layered ostinato which open and close the piece.