G. Holst - The planets Op. 32 - Mars, the Bringer of War - Berliner Philharmoniker - H. von Karajan
The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst. With the exception of Earth (the centre of all yet influentially inert astrologically), all the astrological planets known during the work's composition are represented.
Instrumentation
The work is scored for an exceptionally large orchestra:
Woodwind: 4 flutes (3rd doubling 1st piccolo; 4th doubling 2nd piccolo and a "bass flute in G", actually an alto flute), 3 oboes (3rd doubling bass oboe), an English horn, 3 clarinets in B-flat, a bass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons and a contrabassoon
Brass: 6 horns in F, 4 trumpets in C, 3 trombones (2 tenor and 1 bass), a "tenor tuba" (euphonium in B-flat) and a bass tuba
Keyboards: a celesta, and an organ
Percussion: 6 timpani (2 players, 3 drums each except in "Uranus" having 4 drums for 1st and 2 drums for 2nd), a bass drum, a snare drum, cymbals, a triangle, a tam-tam, a tambourine, a glockenspiel, a xylophone, and tubular bells
Strings: 2 harps, 1st and 2nd violins, violas, cellos, and double basses
Voices: ("Neptune" only), 2 three-part women's choruses (SSA) located in an adjoining room which is to be screened from the audience
The suite has seven movements, each named after a planet and its corresponding astrological character (see Planets in astrology):
1.Mars, the Bringer of War
2.Venus, the Bringer of Peace
3.Mercury, the Winged Messenger
4.Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
5.Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
6.Uranus, the Magician
7.Neptune, the Mystic
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planets
The movement describes raw Martian impulses: the chaotic energy of youth; the mis-use of the will, the desire for action and the chaotic energy of rebellious youth. Holst has unleashed terrifying sounds from a huge orchestra in the destabilising time of five beats to a bar and with triads that are stacked up on top of each other. The language is clear, uncompromising and for Britain, revolutionary. In its day it was perceived as modern “European” and has become a much-copied sound for depicting war and violence in films and on the television.
-Words by Raymond Head
http://www.holstmuseum.org.uk/music-the-planets-suite-mars.htm
