• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Cosmos - Sagan

Orangutango said:
Thanks... I didn't catch that post. Both links are not working for me at the moment... I'm going to pop the Cosmos CD back in and take another listen to see if it is Holst.
Click to expand...

Just remember ... if it is Holst it will be from Jupiter, not Mars. Holst wrote a symphonic suite called The Planets in 7 movements -- each one depicting one of the then known planets (sans Earth). Each one is quite different (musically) from the others.
 
Ok... it definitely sounds like Holst's "The Planets-Mars" (the same music is used for both the Viking landing scene and about a minute before as Sagan is simulating flying down Mariner Valley).
 
Just thinking said:
Thanks Pat ... I was wondering if you were going to jump into this thread too. :D

There seems to be no easy way to solve this thing.
Click to expand...
:D:D

Believe me, I'm almost as interested as you in finding the answer.

This VHS boxed set is on sale on ebay as of now. I have good reasons to think it is the elusive 1985 release, where the selection should be. It is listed as a 1996 release, but that must be in error since there's no 1996 release as far as I know. The same set is at the JREF Library, and Linda informs me the liner notes say "1989". I actually have a 1989 VHS release, but the cases layout is different. Also, my version has a "Turner-Sagan Dialogue" on tape 7, which is not in the other set (picture below). Well, it's still confusing.

videocosmos8ih.jpg
 
Orangutango said:
No... completely different. I have the remastered DVD set, in case that makes a difference.

Check out the this link, where you can listen to the music I heard during that scene: Disc 2, Track 6 (click on the picture of the cd on the right to bring up the menu)

http://www.carlsagan.com/cosmosstore/cd/cd.html#
Click to expand...

Yup ... that's Mars alright.

If that's the background music heard on your DVD set as the Viking Lander simulation is setting down (as in the link I posted just above), then you have uncovered yet a third version of this scene.
 
Patricio Elicer said:
:D:D

Believe me, I'm almost as interested as you in finding the answer.

This VHS boxed set is on sale on ebay as of now. I have good reasons to think it is the elusive 1985 release, where the selection should be. It is listed as a 1996 release, but that must be in error since there's no 1996 release as far as I know.
Click to expand...

OK, I can see why you believe it to be the 1985 release ... but why do you think it has the selection I'm after? Process of elimination?
 
Just thinking said:
Yup ... that's Mars alright.

If that's the background music heard on your DVD set as the Viking Lander simulation is setting down (as in the link I posted just above), then you have uncovered yet a third version of this scene.
Click to expand...

I listened to both the clip you posted and the DVD again to be absolutely sure... they are indeed two seperate pieces of music. Holst's "Mars" is playing in the previous scene before the volume drops as the scene switches to the Viking landing, where the music picks up again. I'm almost 100% positive it is the ending to "Mars".
 
Orangutango said:
I listened to both the clip you posted and the DVD again to be absolutely sure... they are indeed two seperate pieces of music. Holst's "Mars" is playing in the previous scene before the volume drops as the scene switches to the Viking landing, where the music picks up again. I'm almost 100% positive it is the ending to "Mars".
Click to expand...

Well, the Holst Mars ending is rather unique in music ... it has several strong repeating minor chords (all the same chord, actually) hammering away until, after a brief pause, the final lower chord is struck -- a longer steady blast of full orchestra, sustained for effect, and then silence.
 
Last edited:
I now have no idea about what anyone is talking about.

Could my DVD have Chinese music?:)
 
Just thinking said:
Well, the Holst Mars ending is rather unique in music ... it has several strong repeating minor chords (all the same chord, actually) hammering away until, after brief pause, the final lower chord is struck -- a longer steady blast of full orchestra, sustained for effect, and then silence.
Click to expand...

That sounds pretty much what I heard.
 
Orangutango said:
It was produced in 2000.

And the plot thickens... :D
Click to expand...

Yes and no.

It does add to the mix, which is already pretty thick -- but it makes sense in that this version contains different music (Mars) after two earlier versions that were already identified (Firebird & Jupiter). So there is at least no contradicting data facing us.

PS: Thanks much for that release date!
 
Last edited:
Just thinking said:
OK, I can see why you believe it to be the 1985 release ... but why do you think it has the selection I'm after? Process of elimination?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's just elimination. But now Orangutango saying his (or is it her?) version has "Mars" on that sequence, turns things murky again.
 
Last edited:
Patricio Elicer said:
Yes, it's just elimination. But now Orangutango saying his (or is it her?) version has "Mars" on that sequence, turns things murky again.
Click to expand...

Hmmm ... might you be able to please link me directly to the eBay listing itself? I'm having trouble locating it. Thank you.
 
Here you can see both versions side by side for further reference. The second one is a picture of my own collection I took a while ago, it is referred as a 1989 TBS production (it also says Turner Home Entertainment).

Note that mine is a HiFi Stereo version while the other says nothing about it, suggesting that it may be an older version. Also note that in my version Episode 13 is accompanied by a "A Dialogue Sagan-Turner" as a second program on the cassette, while in the other it is Episode 13 alone.

videocosmos8ih.jpg


cosmos39yi.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom