Mars, the Bringer of War hammers a fearsome, relentless 5/4 rhythm. Long unending phrases contrast with glittering martial fanfares, suggesting the "horror" and the "glory" of war. Interesting this piece was written before World War I commenced in 1914.
Three musical ideas are used to create this martial piece:
A brutally rhythmic figure of five beats relentlessly hammered out as an ostinato. Note this pattern is a distortion of a mark rhythm and heard in timpani, harps and strings who play the rhythm tapping the back of their bows on their strings. This is accompanied by a rumbling gong.
Opening theme A is introduced by bassoons, contrabassoons and horns.
Theme B introduced by trombone, tenor tuba and horns.
Theme C introduced in bar 66 by tenor tuba and trumpets with strong beats in the strings. It sounds like a battle fanfare and repeats a number of times with changes to the accompaniment.
Through the act of coming together to play music, the annual Concert for the Planet will mark our global commitment to listen to each other and our planets needs. The inaugural Concert for the Planet 2015 will be a mass participation, multi location, simultaneous performance of Holst's "The Planets".
Ends with the original ostinato but even more warlike in character. The warlike images in this movement are created by:
· the use of brass instruments
· march like themes
· loud dynamics and lots of clashing chords
· predominance of low register (pitch) instruments
· trumpet fanfares
The Planets
Quick Links
How to join in on the night