Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
British
Gustav Holst was a British composer best known for his orchestral suite ‘The Planets’. A suite is a group of individual pieces. There are seven pieces in ‘The Planets’ and ‘Mars, the Bringer of War’ is the first one. In ancient Roman religion Mars was the god of war. Holst composed this piece in anticipation of the outbreak of World War One.
It’s a march but an unusual one. Normally a march has 4 beats in a bar so you can say “left, right, left, right” but Mars has 5 beats in a bar; tricky to march to! Listen out for the opening two harps, strings playing with the wood of the bow, timpani using very hard-headed sticks and the gong. There’s also a solo from the euphonium.
It’s a march but an unusual one. Normally a march has 4 beats in a bar so you can say “left, right, left, right” but Mars has 5 beats in a bar; tricky to march to! Listen out for the opening two harps, strings playing with the wood of the bow, timpani using very hard-headed sticks and the gong. There’s also a solo from the euphonium.
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ACTIVITIES
‘Mars, Bringer of War’ is one movement from The Planets, written by Gustav Holst, between the years 1914-16, at the start of World War One. It was first performed immediately following the war, in 1918. The music is written for a big orchestra, and Holst chose to include a very large percussion section! There are seven movements in The Planets, and each of these is a character piece, musically depicting the planet’s mood, and that of its Roman god. Holst’s love of astrology inspired him to write this work.
Listen to the opening of ‘Mars, Bringer of War’ - what words can you use to describe what you are hearing? How does the music make you feel? Why? Is the tempo fast or slow? Does it change?
Identify the instruments being used in the opening bars. How are the string instruments being played?
The strings are using a technique called col legno (col-len-yo), which literally means ‘with the wood’, and involves turning the bow over and hitting the strings with the wooden part of the bow. This creates a percussive effect.
Choose a percussion instrument and explore the sound that it makes. What is the name of your percussion instrument? Can you find a new way to play their percussion instrument. For example, hit the wood on the side of a drum instead of on the top; or play the xylophone with the wrong end of the beater. Now close your eyes - can you identify the name of the instrument by listening to this 'new' sound?
Explain - The music is written about the planet, Mars, but also about Mars, the Roman God of War. How are these two similar? Listen to, and discuss, how the relentless five-beat ostinato pattern, the thumping drums and the sound of the strings suggest evil, aggression and angst. The planet Mars reflects these characteristics, and its two moons have war-like names (Phobos: meaning ‘fear’; and Deimos: meaning ‘terror’). The heavy use of brass and percussion instruments, commonly associated with the military, suggests an army marching to war. Use of these instruments gives the music a dark mood, in the same way that an author creates a certain mood in a story by using descriptions.
Create a short piece of music, in small groups, focusing specifically on the use of an ostinato pattern throughout; and adding dynamic contrast through the use of crescendos and diminuendos. Use percussion instruments, voices or body percussion to create their own ‘Mars’ piece of music.
Perform these compositions to the rest of the class, and encourage feedback. Could pupils hear the ostinato pattern? Could they identify dynamic changes? Did it make them feel the same way as Holst’s music did? If not, how did it make them feel?
Extension - Find out what the other six movements are in Holst’s The Planets. What are the planets, and the names of the Roman Gods? Listen to the music from each of these movements and identify characteristics of the music that relate to the character of the planet and the Roman God. Which instruments are used and why? Are they loud or quiet pieces of music? Are they fast or slow?
Learning Outcomes
Listen to the opening of ‘Mars, Bringer of War’ - what words can you use to describe what you are hearing? How does the music make you feel? Why? Is the tempo fast or slow? Does it change?
Identify the instruments being used in the opening bars. How are the string instruments being played?
The strings are using a technique called col legno (col-len-yo), which literally means ‘with the wood’, and involves turning the bow over and hitting the strings with the wooden part of the bow. This creates a percussive effect.
Choose a percussion instrument and explore the sound that it makes. What is the name of your percussion instrument? Can you find a new way to play their percussion instrument. For example, hit the wood on the side of a drum instead of on the top; or play the xylophone with the wrong end of the beater. Now close your eyes - can you identify the name of the instrument by listening to this 'new' sound?
Explain - The music is written about the planet, Mars, but also about Mars, the Roman God of War. How are these two similar? Listen to, and discuss, how the relentless five-beat ostinato pattern, the thumping drums and the sound of the strings suggest evil, aggression and angst. The planet Mars reflects these characteristics, and its two moons have war-like names (Phobos: meaning ‘fear’; and Deimos: meaning ‘terror’). The heavy use of brass and percussion instruments, commonly associated with the military, suggests an army marching to war. Use of these instruments gives the music a dark mood, in the same way that an author creates a certain mood in a story by using descriptions.
Create a short piece of music, in small groups, focusing specifically on the use of an ostinato pattern throughout; and adding dynamic contrast through the use of crescendos and diminuendos. Use percussion instruments, voices or body percussion to create their own ‘Mars’ piece of music.
Perform these compositions to the rest of the class, and encourage feedback. Could pupils hear the ostinato pattern? Could they identify dynamic changes? Did it make them feel the same way as Holst’s music did? If not, how did it make them feel?
Extension - Find out what the other six movements are in Holst’s The Planets. What are the planets, and the names of the Roman Gods? Listen to the music from each of these movements and identify characteristics of the music that relate to the character of the planet and the Roman God. Which instruments are used and why? Are they loud or quiet pieces of music? Are they fast or slow?
Learning Outcomes
- Understanding the role of individual instruments within an orchestral setting
- Understanding various instrumental techniques used to create effect
- Understanding the appropriate elements (tempo, dynamics, rhythm) required to create a stylistically similar piece of music
- Understanding the historical and astrological context of the music
Notation for Beginners:
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Notation for Grades 1 & 2:
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