Date composed:
1984

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THE PLANETS for solo horn (1984)

Richard Burdick, b. 1961

The work was written for Philip Myers, first horn of the New York Philharmonic after the composer studied with Mr. Myers. Upon presenting the ’Mercury’ and ’Mars’ sections, the composer was asked for the entire set. Mr. Burdick rewrote the other sections for solo horn, although originally they had been scored for other
instruments, solo and ensemble.

Introduction (The Sun) is the loudest, flashiest and most far-reaching in its use of large tonal intervals. Certainly the most difficult movement. (I Ching 49)

Mercury — the intellectual planet; houses the seeds for the entire series. (I Ching 50)

Venus (I Ching 51)

Earth — called "Green Earth (A), Birds, Blue Sky (F#) and the Soul of the Horn" (I Ching 52)

Mars — a dynamic study (I Ching 53)

Jupiter — (I Ching 54)

Saturn (I Ching 55)

Uranus — the shortest movement (after Hindemith) (I Ching 56)

Neptune — the mysterious planet (I Ching 57)

Pluto — the wandering planet (I Ching 58)

Richard BURDICK was born in Berkeley, California and began his music studies in 1973, his composing in 1975. He has created about 30 works for full orchestra, chamber orchestra, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, brass trio, solo horn and other odd combinations. He was the winner of the 1983 Kensington Symphony Composition Contest.
As a hornist, he has performed professionally with Woodminster Theatre, Berkeley Stage Company, Napa Symphony, Vallejo Symphony, Trinity Chamber Orchestra an many other groups. He has studied with Earl Saxton, Stuart Gronningen, Bill Klinglehoffer and Philip Myers.

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