The Holst Revival Gets a Whirlwind Makeover with Harmonica and Hoedown
A genre-bending mashup of classical and folk music, 'The Silent Planet' reimagines Gustav Holst's iconic suite 'The Planets', incorporating an eclectic mix of instruments and a healthy dose of improvisation. Melodeon and harmonica virtuoso Will Pound and percussionist Delia Stevens, part of the duo Stevens & Pound, brought their unique sound to the performance, blending folk roots with classical training.
As the evening unfolded, it became clear that this was no ordinary concert. The duo's infectious energy was palpable, with Stevens' dynamic stage presence and Pound's whimsical harmonica playing drawing the audience in. The result was a thrilling spectacle of virtuosity, as the performers careened from drones to jigs and reels with dizzying speed.
From the opening notes of 'Mars', it was clear that this wasn't going to be a staid classical performance. Conch shell blasts punctuated the air, followed by a whirlwind hoedown for Venus that left the audience grinning from ear to ear. The contrast between the duo's raw energy and the refined orchestration of Britten's 'English Folksong Suite' provided an intriguing counterpoint.
But it was the new movement, 'Earth', which proved the most striking development – its lilting tune reminiscent of William Byrd's 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'. For a fleeting moment, the chaos subsided, allowing the music to breathe. Still, the overall effect remained a frenetic, joyous romp, with Stevens & Pound's medley of folk tunes effortlessly segueing into tango, bluegrass, and other styles.
The audience was thoroughly won over by this unorthodox yet compelling take on Holst's masterpiece, leaving even the usually stoic conductor Clark Rundell smiling as they took their final bows.
A genre-bending mashup of classical and folk music, 'The Silent Planet' reimagines Gustav Holst's iconic suite 'The Planets', incorporating an eclectic mix of instruments and a healthy dose of improvisation. Melodeon and harmonica virtuoso Will Pound and percussionist Delia Stevens, part of the duo Stevens & Pound, brought their unique sound to the performance, blending folk roots with classical training.
As the evening unfolded, it became clear that this was no ordinary concert. The duo's infectious energy was palpable, with Stevens' dynamic stage presence and Pound's whimsical harmonica playing drawing the audience in. The result was a thrilling spectacle of virtuosity, as the performers careened from drones to jigs and reels with dizzying speed.
From the opening notes of 'Mars', it was clear that this wasn't going to be a staid classical performance. Conch shell blasts punctuated the air, followed by a whirlwind hoedown for Venus that left the audience grinning from ear to ear. The contrast between the duo's raw energy and the refined orchestration of Britten's 'English Folksong Suite' provided an intriguing counterpoint.
But it was the new movement, 'Earth', which proved the most striking development – its lilting tune reminiscent of William Byrd's 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'. For a fleeting moment, the chaos subsided, allowing the music to breathe. Still, the overall effect remained a frenetic, joyous romp, with Stevens & Pound's medley of folk tunes effortlessly segueing into tango, bluegrass, and other styles.
The audience was thoroughly won over by this unorthodox yet compelling take on Holst's masterpiece, leaving even the usually stoic conductor Clark Rundell smiling as they took their final bows.
Will Pound and Delia Stevens are absolute geniuses bringing folk roots to classical music. I love how they added that hoedown vibe to 'Venus' it's like a party in your head 
! The way they blended different styles from tango to bluegrass was pure magic 
Clark Rundell is so lucky to have such talented performers under his baton 
. I need to listen to this whole album ASAP 
Will Pound's harp skills were insane, btw 
. The whole 'Earth' movement was so cool, it was like a folk jam session gone wild 
! But what really got me was how they seamlessly mixed in different styles - it was like they were having a musical party and I was invited 
This Holst revival is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Who knew folk & classical could blend so well? 
The harmonica & percussion combo with Will Pound & Delia Stevens is pure MAGIC 
And I love how they mixed folk and classical, it's like a party up in there 
it sounds like Stevens & Pound really knew how to shake things up with that classical/folk mashup 
. love how they mashed up classical and folk to create something fresh & wild 
. the energy of the performance was infectious 
.
. The hoedown for Venus was pure genius, lol! Who knew conch shells and harmonicas could make 'Mars' sound so fun? 
And that new 'Earth' movement? I'm all about that lilting tune vibe 
. It's like they're having so much fun making music that it's infectious 
! The use of harmonica and conch shell blasts is genius 
... or should I say, playing it on the melodeon? 
, the next you're hoedown-ing your way through Venus 
! all in all, a total game-changer for classical music - i'm so stoked to see where these talented musicians take it next 
. The way Will's harmonica and Delia's percussion just take off into this wild folk-rock ride for 'Earth' was absolute magic 
. And can we talk about that hoedown on Venus? Who knew Holst's suite could be so...country?