Show Title
Jupiter
Repertoire
The Roman God of war, for whom the month of March is named, inspired the intense barbarity of “Mars the Bringer of War.” The Cavaliers began as the suite does, with the incessant 5/4 time-signature repetitive rhythmic figure that inspired John Williams’ “Imperial March” from “Star Wars.”

As Mars is known as “The Red Planet,” snare drums were red and the color guard flags featured vertical strips of shades of orange and red. The piece was especially barbaric, leading to a block circle of brass players that with internal movement made the entire circle appear to be rotating.

“Venus, the Bringer of Peace” was named after the Roman goddess of love and sexuality whose characterization evolved out of the Greek goddess, Aphrodite. The movement’s ethereal nature was about as contrary in mood to “Mars” as possible.

During this section a number of open planetary orbs were seen across the field, twirled by members of the color guard. Facing backfield, the horns manipulated a four-deep block form by gently moving it back and forth, while at the same time the columns gently expanded and contracted. The serene visual effect was like looking at heat waves rising above a distant horizon.

Holst based “Mercury, the Winged Messenger” on the Roman god of commerce, poetry, and communication. The work was essentially a percussion feature with some brass contributions, culminating with the corps pulling off what would become one of its best-known drill formations of all-time, a rotating DNA helix.

The final four and a half minutes of the show focused on “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,” the most popular piece in the suite and one used often in popular culture. A major portion of the movement was the chorale that Holst adapted into the hymn, “I Vow to Thee, My Country,” which became quite popular in Great Britain and regarded as a popular patriotic anthem.

The chorale was mostly played backfield, allowing the brass players to create a sort of organ-like effect via the sound bouncing off the back stands. Things culminated in a grand final statement, with a lone color guard member climbing a tall pole and hoisting up one of the miniature open planetary orbs utilized during the last part of “Mercury.”