In celebration of the 150th birthday of renowned composer Gustav Holst, the University of Gloucestershire is joining town-wide festivities by hosting Holst Spaceship Earth, an immersive 360° experience set to take place on 18 and 19 October.
Holst, born in Cheltenham on 21 September 1874, is best known for his iconic orchestral suite The Planets.
The event, created in partnership with the Holst Birthplace Trust and the PlayLa.bZ research institute, offers a multi-dimensional exploration of Holst’s legacy.
Holst Spaceship Earth features virtual reality experiences, soundscapes, multi-dimensional projections, and a premiere of a new music piece, The Transit of Venus.
The five-metre-high planetarium will serve as the setting for this futuristic tribute.
Students from the University of Gloucestershire played a significant role in developing the project.
BA Sound and Music Production student Ben Springall recorded Holst’s personal piano, while MSc Sound and Music Production student Manu Agarwal captured 360-degree videos of Holst’s birthplace, the Holst Victorian House.
Agarwal also composed spatial music inspired by The Planets and integrated it with VR videos to create a dynamic and immersive experience.
Supported by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, Holst Spaceship Earth is described as a “contemporary reimagining of peace, wellbeing, equality, and nature.”
The experience also touches on themes of climate awareness and inclusive community concepts, all inspired by Holst’s artistic vision.
Laura Kinnear, curator of the Holst Victorian House, praised the collaboration with the university: “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.”
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