Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets by Holst Creative Listening Guide Karen S. Thomas

Music Track Time: Beginning of music Notice how the music begins soft and builds Listen for percussion and brass instruments Does this music make you think of the solar system? Can you imagine a story that goes along with the music?

Music Track Time: 50 seconds The building sound of the music increases! How do the crescendo- decrescendo parts make you feel? What affect do those parts have on this beginning section of the music?

Music Track Time: 1 minute, 12 seconds Brass instruments play the Theme 1 rhythm Dynamics are much louder here! What might you imagine happening in this part of the music?

Music Track Time: 1 minute, 18 seconds How does this new theme add to the feeling of the music? Listen for the return of the crescendo/decrescendo parts from Theme 1

Music Track Time: 2 minutes, 5 seconds The mellow sounds of the horns introduce Theme 3 Does this change the feeling of the music? What happens when the strings play this theme with higher sounds?

Music Track Time: 2 minutes, 30 seconds Strings plays Theme 4 while brass instruments play more of Theme 3

Music Track Time: 2 minutes, 59 seconds What does this sound like to you? What is going on here? Why do you think the music suddenly changes here? Sudden change! There is a break in the music and then a very loud and low chord

Music Track Time: 3 minutes, 4 seconds Theme 2 returns very softly in the strings Does it sound the same as before? What could be happening here after the sudden change earlier? Notice the pattern climbs higher and higher as the intense feeling of the music builds

Music Track Time: 4 minutes, 2 seconds Brass instruments play Theme 1 rhythm at a higher pitch than before, while low brass play the melody Does this change the feeling of the music?

Music Track Time: 4 minutes, 48 seconds Theme 3 returns in the brass section Does it sound the same as before or is it a bit different? What do you imagine happening during this section?

Music Track Time: 5 minutes, 4 seconds Theme 2 returns

Music Track Time: 5 minutes, 8 seconds Theme 4 joins in, then Theme 2 returns again The crescendo/decrescendo parts from Theme 1 return to build tension

Music Track Time: 5 minutes, 51 seconds What do you think is happening here? Very loud ffff chord here! Why does the music suddenly stop moving with driving force like before?

Music Track Time: 6 minutes What do you imagine is happening here? Music changes to softer sounds, but still menacing

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 18 seconds Woodwinds and strings play very fast notes, building to the big finale! What kind of feeling do these fast notes give the music?

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 23 seconds Very loud ffff chord after the buildup of fast notes Does this chord sound like the end?

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 25 seconds Is this the end? 3 very loud accented chords

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 28 seconds Is this the end now? 3 more very loud accented chords

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 30 seconds Wait, is this the end? Now 4 very loud accented chords What is happening?

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 34 seconds Slowing down.... Now 2 very loud accented chords

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 38 seconds Slowing down even more.... Now 3 very loud accented chords

Music Track Time: 6 minutes, 43 seconds Final Chord! THE END!!!

What do you imagine happened at the end? Is there anything you would change about the music?