Mars ("The Bringer of War," from The Planets): Bassoon

In all of music literature, there is little that is more breathtaking in its raw musical power than this movement from Gustav Holst's The Planets. A thundering war theme introduces the work in a dramatic 5/4 meter with hugely successful harmonic and rhythmic counterpoint. Mars is guaranteed to bring your audience to its feet, resounding with applause! (3:16)