Mars, The Bringer of War - from Holst's The Planets

Since time immemorial, man has looked upon the heavens with a sense of awe, wonder, imagination and mystery. It was inevitable that interpretations of outer space would find their way into artistic endeavours, including our music. Composition of The Planets occupied Holst from 1914 to 1916. The first complete performance was conducted by Albert Coates on 15 November, 1920.

Such is the music’s originality, imagination and sensationalism that audiences have been looking ever since into Holst’s catalogue for more compositions of this nature – in vain. Atypical as it may be, The Planets remains by far Holst’s most popular work. Holst claimed that the individual titles of his Planets “were suggested by the astrological significance of the planets; there is no programme music, neither have they any connection with the deities of classical mythology.”

Mars represents the brutish, unfeeling, inhuman nature of mechanised warfare. “Unpleasant and terrifying” were Holst’s words to describe how the music should sound. A relentless pounding is set up in the opening bars, a pounding that carries through the entire movement. The unusual meter Holst chose for this music, 5/4, creates its own opportunities for musical warfare.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton, Principal Guest Conductor

Watch the complete performance of The Planets at https://youtu.be/JEi23_uSGNE

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 8 Nov 2019.

Notes: Robert Markow
Photo: VANIT JANTHRA / NASA

Видео Mars, The Bringer of War - from Holst's The Planets канала Singapore Symphony