Line #54 Main/BringerOfWarMusic


1	-> ''"Dadada-da-da! (chuckles) What a tune!"''
2	--> --'''Mars''', ''VideoGame/Dota2''
3
4	A series of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I#t=4m24s rapid-fire staccato notes followed by more spaced notes that are blasted out]], usually by the low brass section. The result is an insistent, driving rhythm with a stirring martial mood. This is the signature sound of "[[TropeNamer Mars, Bringer of War]]" from Music/GustavHolst's "The Planets". It is also one that film composers have drawn on for inspiration for when they need something that sounds warlike.
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6	While "Mars" used that pattern described above, other composers may elect to play around with it, altering the order of the patterns, or in some cases dropping slower notes and just having the groups of rapid ones.
7	----
8	!!Examples
9	[[foldercontrol]]
10	[[folder:Anime]]
11	In Main/TheMovie of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', the main character Nanoha's {{Leitmotif}}, ''[[https://youtu.be/rV1a7LWozoY?si=AZ_eahosv0x_es3D&t=125 Gather, Light of the Stars]]'', includes a prelude straight out of Holst. It must be noted here that this is the theme tune for a ''nine-year-old Main/MagicalGirl''.
12	[[/folder]]
13	[[folder:Film]]
14	* ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow'': The Holst tempo can be heard in the track "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwtJiG45BlI#t=1m40s Calling Sky Captain]]", as Totenkopf's war machines are let loose on New York City.
15	* ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'': The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0yiiivbJFU#t=0m50s main theme]] uses Holst-inspired music to set the mood, where the Federation and Klingons will determine if they can have peace, or if those who desire war will win out.
16	* ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'': Heard in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXhC_lNQNP8#t=0m40s Leave No Witnesses]]", the cue for the final battle, though in this case the Holst tempo comes as Captain Love orders Don Rafael's enslaved workers locked into cages to be buried alongside the rest of the evidence of their illegal mining operation.
17	* ''Film/LastOfTheMohicans'': This forms the basis of ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edKEqlMsZvo Fort Battle]]", the music that plays over the battle at Fort William.
18	* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Heard frequently throughout the films:
19	** The music at the beginning of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLgsf8Pei6Q first scene]] of ''Film/ANewHope'', where the Imperial star destroyer is pursuing Princess Leia's ship. It has a staccato beat clearly inspired by Holst's Mars music.
20	** Perhaps the most prominent is the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8 Imperial March]] from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', the main theme of the Empire in general and Darth Vader in particular.
21	** Also heard as an ostinato in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wsmJYAgR3I Rebel Fanfare]].
22	* ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'': Heard in the song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWdOjxoQro Shiver My Timbers]]" describing the bloodthirsty Captain Flint and his crew of cutthroat pirates. It starts in the second verse but becomes especially apparent in the final verse.
23	* ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'': Heard most prominently in two tracks, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unb3FdsT5fQ#t=2m The Battle]]", where we first see Maximus leading his troops into battle giving the famous "What We Do In Life" speech, and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ5lQev52gk#t=2m52s Barbarian Horde]]", the gladiatorial fight where he rallies his gladiators and leads them to victory.
24	** The resemblance was uncanny enough in this case that the Holst estate sued the film over it.
25	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'': "Mars, Bringer of War" is heard during the scene where Tim and Boss Baby infiltrate [=PuppyCo=] and try to take the file about their new puppy.
26	* ''Film/IndependenceDay'': The track "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy3bGMdt8bg Darkest Day]]" has this rhythm, as the alien ships appear in various parts around the world, literally bringing doom and war with them.
27	* ''Film/TheTwoTowers'': Heard during the siege of Helm's Deep as the torchbearer is running to ignite the explosives planted in the fortresses' drain.
28	* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Holst-inspired music is heard as the pirates of the ''Black Pearl'' attack Port Royale.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
32	* ''Series/BabylonFive'':
33	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w560Q8ELOg fourth season intro]] has a Holst-rhythm pounded out on the drums as this season starts with the second half of the Shadow War then moves into the Battle For Earth.
34	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ndheIKNyA music]] playing during Londo's recounting of the Earth-Minbari War in "[[Film/BabylonFiveInTheBeginning In the Beginning]]" has a slow Holst-inspired rhythm under the main melody. It's tapped out on a drum rather than pounded or blasted out as the focus here is more on the tragedy of the war.
35	* Surprisingly, done for ''Series/SesameStreet'''s Season 29 arc, "Slimey To The Moon". Of course, this is not for a pre- or during-fighting scene (given the nature of the show), but rather, to build up the excitement and tension for the launch of the rocket carrying Slimey and the rest of the crew, and then a triumphant continuation as the rocket speeds through space.
36	[[/folder]]
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38	[[folder:Music]]
39	* "War Pigs" by Music/BlackSabbath begins with lead guitarist Tony Iommi and bass player Geezer Butler constructing riffs around the main theme of Holst's ''Mars - Bringer of War''. Holst's theme is still in the final mix if you listen very closely.
40	* Music/DiamondHead's "Am I Evil", later [[CoveredUp famously covered]] by Music/{{Metallica}}, has this as the intro of the song.
41	* Music/GustavHolst's ''The Planets'' features this in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I Mars, Bringer of War]]". While the pounding beat has almost certainly appeared in earlier works, Holst codified it into what it is now.
42	* Music/KingCrimson's [[Music/InTheWakeOfPoseidon "The Devil's Triangle"]] is a direct adaptation of the TropeNamer, and as such features a distinctive plodding, percussive rhythm intended to invoke an atmosphere of militaristic violence.
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45	[[folder:Roleplay]]
46	* During the final battle of ''Roleplay/DinoAttackRPG'', several people play classical music to raise their teammates' morale and motivate them during the fight. Among them is Osprey, who plays "Mars, the Bringer of War" from his Aerial Defense Unit. It serves as a grimmer contrast to the "1812 Overture", which he was playing earlier in the battle when things were looking more optimistic.
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49	[[folder:Video Games]]
50	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
51	** The Death Mountain theme from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'' and its sequel ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' opens with militaristic staccato beats, giving it a warlike energy evocative of "Mars".
52	** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'': The track "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6D6J7U8UZI Under Siege]]" is basically an updated take on the Bringer of War music, appropriate considering the game deals with the clashing of large armies rather than the series' traditional fare of a lone hero battling the forces of evil.
53	* ''VideoGame/LegoLegacyHeroesUnboxed'': One of the tracks for the Classic Space area is a literal remix of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8q8HxMHfbM Mars, Bringer of War]]" with techno sounds and Theremin tones to give it an otherworldly sound.
54	* The ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' airship theme is built entirely around a militaristic staccato beat, based directly on that of Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War". While the orchestrated version from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' makes the homage to "Mars" very explicit through its use of drums, horns, and strings, it's impressive how the original chiptune introduced in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' still manages to convey that warlike tone.
55	* ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'' has Mars' ultimate ability, Arena of Blood, which summons a ring of spears that serve as an arena for Mars and any entrapped enemies. Whenever the ability is active, a snippet of Holst's "Mars" would play to remind players to fight or die when he's on you. Even Mars hums to the song whenever he's given a move command or he kills an enemy while the ability is active.
56	* ''VideoGame/CommanderKeen'': In the last level of the fifth episode, Quantum Explosion Dynamo, an adapted version of Holst's "Mars, Bringer of War" by Bobby Prince plays. This theme was chosen because, in this level, Keen has to disable a superweapon that is capable of obliterating the whole galaxy.
57	* In the Platform/TurboGrafx16 CD remake of ''VideoGame/{{Valis}} II'', the [[https://youtu.be/606g6iKvB9o Act 4]] BGM is a "Mars"-esque arrangement of the game's main theme.
58	* ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'': A Holst-inspired rhythm is heard in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMed0AQt6g4 Final Assault]]", the piece underscoring the climb up the Citadel tower to reach Sovereign, battling Geth the entire way.
59	* ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'':
60	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwXq8wohQSk "Arena Showdown"]] music from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' (and reused in some later games of the series) is heavily inspired by the "Bringer of War," with a steady tempo, brass lead, and rapid, staccato orchestra hits. Fittingly, it plays as the main battle theme in the game's BossRush mode. This homage is made more apparent by the Arena's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr-Hd1AJeQw title theme]], which more closely resembles the original composition.
61	** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl1S1oJCl4Y "True Arena Showdown"]] theme introduced in ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'', meanwhile, is a heavy metal-style remix of the original "Arena Showdown" theme that starts out slow and picks up in tempo, retaining the staccato beat with its rhythm guitar. Its more intense sound fits the [[BrutalBonusLevel increased difficulty]] of the True Arena.
62	* In ''VideoGame/{{Descent}} 2'', the MIDI music for [[https://youtu.be/pv38zodtZNI Level 2]] is basically an {{industrial}} take on "Mars, Bringer of War".
63	* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' makes excellent use of "Mars"-style rhythms in "[[https://youtu.be/lzCQlozOFTo Taking Out The Railgun]]". Ditto the [[https://youtu.be/tpXgEtHsiEA?si=jhRvi_cniwfeGF4N Tiger Tank]] theme in ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault''.
64	* ''VideoGame/ActRaiser'''s WorldTree [[https://youtu.be/tIBnDi7og5c stage theme]] was confirmed by composer Creator/YuzoKoshiro to be inspired by the Death Star battle music from ''Film/StarWarsANewHope'', which itself borrowed from the "Mars" and "Jupiter" movements of ''The Planets''. The [[https://youtu.be/f4sj5I8ADXE Bloodpool/Kasandora]] theme also has "Bringer of War" vibes.
65	* In ''VideoGame/{{Turok}} 2'', the climax of the [[https://youtu.be/_4_PVaMLKsk?si=hSP-nJFXhBYarnMa?t=1m53s Death Marshes]] music has a heavily "Mars"-inspired rhythm and instrumentation.
66	[[/folder]]
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68	[[folder:Web Animation]]
69	* ''WebAnimation/OverlySarcasticProductions'': Holst's "Mars" will play whenever violence or war is present in the video, especially if it involves Ares.
70	[[/folder]]
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72	[[folder:Western Animation]]
73	* There's an scene in ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' that invokes this for a scene of [[ThoseTwoGuys Number 21 and Number 24]] suiting up, with the Holst piece playing in the background as the characters hum/sing the melody over top.
74	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BringerOfWarMusic