A RECORDING of a performance of Holst’s “deeply spiritual” The Planets recorded at an empty Salisbury Cathedral is set to premiere next month.

On September 18 at 8pm, the cathedral’s YouTube channel will show The Planets: Out of Darkness for free.

Arranged for the organ and performed by John Challenger, assistant director of music at Salisbury Cathedral, and filmed by Salisbury-based Ben Tomlin, the full-length filmed performance was recorded at night in the empty venue.

John said he believes there is something special about combining the majestic setting with the famous Father Willis organ and Holst’s deeply spiritual music.

“It is at night time that I find the Cathedral especially remarkable,” he said. “It is not the pipe organ alone, but the stones which surround it, the feelings evoked when such music emerges from the shadows, that contribute to the overall effect.

“These meditative moments – a job perk for the very lucky organist who gets to practise at the dead of night – is something I have long wanted to share through the medium of film.”

Written between 1914 and 1917, each of The Planets’ seven movements relates to the character of a planet from the Solar System, most famously Jupiter – The Bringer of Jollity, Mars – The Bringer of War and Neptune – The Mystic.

The latter features ethereal voices, in this recording sung by the choristers of Salisbury Cathedral.

The film and recording are the conclusion of a two-year long community project, initiated by John and aimed at sharing the music creatively with young people.

Working with the cathedral’s Education team and music charity La Folia, the project has included a concert performance to a packed cathedral audience and music workshops with four schools, including Exeter House School, Salisbury’s school for children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties.

An accompanying audio recording of the performance will also be available for purchase as a CD and download.