Resynthesized and remastered in 24-bit high definition surround

Mars Suite is a concert suite of the soundtrack music composed for Mars in 3-D, a U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration film of stereographic images relayed to Earth from Mars by the Viking lander and orbiter spacecraft.

The first and third movements were written to accompany the images taken from orbit around Mars: panoramas of rugged cliffs, vast craters, and the towering Olympus Mons volcano flanked by ethereal white clouds. The second movement, Chryse Planitia, is music of the ancient and desolate landscape, frozen and sandswept, that was revealed by the Viking lander craft. The spoken text includes some of the geographical place-names surrounding the two landing sites.

1. Orbital View

Binaural 3D audio (best for headphones)

2. Chryse Planitia

Binaural 3D audio (best for headphones)

3. Olympus Mons Flanked by Clouds

Binaural 3D audio (best for headphones)

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1. Orbital View

Stereo audio (best for speakers)

2. Chryse Planitia

Stereo audio (best for speakers)

3. Olympus Mons Flanked by Clouds

Stereo audio (best for speakers)

The fundamental harmonic structure of Mars Suite is derived from the well-known opening bars of the last movement of Gustav Holst's The Planets, which features two minor triads a major third apart. The use of a specially-designed just tuning system results in uniquely beautiful and expressive harmonic textures and melodies.

Mars Suite, as a concert work, premiered February 17, 1985, at the Monday Evening Concerts at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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