music

January 27, 2026

Know the score? I don’t read music, but that’s no hindrance to reimagining great classical works

Folk duo Pound & Stevens have transformed, and added to, Holst’s The Planets Suite and tour the new work this week with Britten Sinfonia. Will Pound explains why playing by ear is his greatest strength

Know the score? I don’t read music, but that’s no hindrance to reimagining great classical works

TL;DR

  • Folk-classical duo Stevens & Pound have recomposed Holst’s Planets suite into a new work called The Silent Planet.
  • Will Pound, a multi-instrumentalist, does not read music due to dyslexia but finds learning by ear to be his greatest strength.
  • The duo's mission is to rethink major classical works by incorporating the dynamism and freedom of playing by ear.
  • Their recomposition of The Planets involves custom instruments and new techniques to adapt to the work's technical demands.
  • Stevens & Pound aim to challenge the perceived divide between classical and folk music genres.
  • The program also features composers Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten, who recognized connections between classical and folk music.

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