(thing) by Andara Wed May 15 2002 at 7:55:58
In 1976, synthesizer master Isao Tomita released his vision of Holst's The Planets. This was to be my first exposure to the suite, and it will forever stick with me as my favorite, being a fan of both the suite itself and synthesizer music, or electronica, in general.

Released by RCA, this was the last album released by that label in the quadrophonic format.

Probably due to Patrick Gleeson also releasing a synthesizer version of The Planets in the same year on the Mercury label, the US title for the album was changed to The Tomita Planets.

The sound of the album is quite cosmic and the first strains, reminiscent of a space ship or rocket, draw you in for the ride. As with Holst's original, each part moves quite appropriately into the next, weaving an electronic tapestry of the solar system. Also as with the original, there is no piece for Pluto, as in Holst's time it had yet to be discovered.

Listed among the best keyboard albums of all time from Keyboard Magazine, the album was actually pulled from stores after Holst's surviving family protested, claiming that Tomita had manhandled the great composition.

Tomita's The Planets is a must for any fan of synthesizer music.

While the original suite has 7 movements, the album was released with 5 tracks, the final two being comprised of two movements each.

Tracks
  1. Mars, The Bringer of War (10:54)
  2. Venus, The Bringer of Peace (8:39)
  3. Mercury, The Winged Messenger (5:22)
  4. Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity (17:26)
    Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age
  5. Uranus, The Magician (9:45)
    Neptune, The Mystic
Along with composing the album, Tomita also performed all of the music. Here is his equipment list:
Moog Synthesizer (Quantity)
  • 914 Extended Range Fixed Filter Bank: 125Hz - 5KHz, 12-Band Highpass/Lowpass Filter (2)
  • 904-A Voltage-Controlled Lowpass Filter: 24dB per Octave Classic Moog Lowpass Filter (3)
  • 904-B Voltage-Controlled Highpass Filter: 24dB per Octave Highpass Filter (2)
  • 904-C Filter Coupler (1)
  • 901 Voltage-Controlled Oscillator: Used as a VCO or an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) as on the Minimoog (1)
  • 921 Voltage-Controlled Oscillator: 0.01Hz - 40kHz Frequency Range (1)
  • 901-A Oscillator Controller: 1 Volt per Octave (3)
  • 921-A Oscillator Driver: 1 Volt per Octave (2)
  • 901-B Oscillator: The Basis of the Moog Sound (9)
  • 921-B Oscillator: Newer and More Stable than 901-B (6)
  • 903-A Random Signal Generator: White/Pink Noise Generator for Wind/Rain/Sea Effects (3)
  • 911 Envelope Generator: 2ms - 10s Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release Configuration (12)
  • 911-A Dual Trigger Delay: 2ms - 10s 2 Channel Delay Unit (2)
  • 902 Voltage-Controlled Amplifier: Linear/Exponential Amplifier with 2 Inputs, 2 Outputs, 3 Control Voltages (9)
  • 912 Envelope Follower (2)
  • 984 Four-Channel Mixer (1)
  • 960 Sequential Controller: 8 Steps by 3 Rows Sequencer with Fully Variable Voltages (3)
  • 961-CP Interface: CV/Trigger to Moog S-Trig Convertor for 960 Sequencer (2)
  • 962 Sequential Switch: Configures 960 Sequencer (4)
  • 950 Keyboard Controller: 49-Note Monophonic Keyboard (2)
  • 950-B Scale Programmer (1)
  • 956 Ribbon Controller: Alternative to the Keyboard (1)
  • 6401 Bode Ring Modulator: Combines 2 Inputs, and Outputs the Sum and Difference, Classically Used for Metallic Sounds, Such as Bells: Designed by Harald Bode (1)
  • 1630 Bode Frequency Shifter (1)
  • 959 X-Y Controller: Joystick Controller for Mixing 2 Signals (2)
  • 905 Reverberation Unit: Spring-Type Reverberation (1)
Roland Synthesizer (Quantity)
  • 714A Interface (1)
  • 704C Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (1)
  • 715A Multimode Filters (1)
  • 723A Analog Switch (1)
  • 720B 2 Ch. Phase Shifter (1)
  • 721A 2 Ch. Audio Delay: 700-Series Modules Later Incorporated into Roland System 700 Modular (1)
Mixer (Quantity)
  • Quad/Eight Compumix (24 Ch.) (1)
  • Sony MX-710 (8 Ch.) (2)
  • Sony MX-16 (8 Ch.) (3)
Tape Recorder (Tape Speed)
  • Ampex MM-1100 16 Tracks (76 cm/s)
  • Ampex AG-440 4 Tracks (1/2") (38 cm/s)
  • TEAC 80-8 8 Tracks (1/2") (38 cm/s)
  • TEAC A-3340S 4 Tracks (1/4") (38 cm/s)
  • TEAC 7030GSL 2 Tracks (38 cm/s)
  • Sony TC-9040 4 Tracks (1/4") (38 cm/s)
Noise Reduction
  • dbx 187
  • TEAC DX-8
Accessory (Quantity)
  • AKG BX20E Echo Unit (1)
  • Revac Echo Unit (1)
  • Binson Echorec "2" (2)
  • Roland Space Echo RE-201 (1)
  • Eventide Clockworks "Instant Phaser" (1)
  • Maestro Phase Shifter (1)
  • Roland Phase Shifte (2)
  • Fender "Dimention IV" (1)
  • Maestro Sound System for Woodwinds (1)
  • Maestro Rhythm 'n' Sound for Guitar (1)
  • Sony Transceiver CB-107: For Those Spacemen Sound Effects (2)
  • Fender Electronic Piano: Probably a Rhodes Suitcase Model (1)
  • Hohner Clavinet C (1)
  • Sitar with Barcus-Berry Contact Microphone (1)
  • Roland Strings RS-202 (1)
  • Mellotron (Chorus, Flute, Timpani) (1)
  • Electronic Harp (1)
  • Leslie Speaker] Model 147: For 'Rotating' Sounds, Popular with Hammond Organs (1)
  • Sankyo Orgel Rhythmica: Designed to Set the Music by Punch Card System (1)
Equipment list and technical information from: http://www.isaotomita.net/tomita

I like it! 1 C!