Olympus mons

Abstract

Olympus Mons, Latin for ?Mount Olympus,? refers to many features. It obviously refers to the terrifying Mount Olympus in Greece, which was considered insurmountable during ancient times. It also refers to the largest known volcano in our solar system?374 miles in diameter and 16 miles high?on the planet Mars. ?Mars Mountain? can refer either to Olympus Mons, and ?Mars Hill? can refer to the Areopagus in Athens, Greece, where Athenians held debates and murder trials. On the other hand, ?Olympinublius? is a made-up word, which I devised by juxtaposing the roots ?Olympus? and ?nubilus? (sic). Thus, the title essentially refers to a cloudy Mount Olympus. Although I originally conceived this work with ?Olympinublius,? it became clear about halfway through composing the piece that it needed a suitable, light-hearted introduction, for two reasons: (1) ?Olympinublius? felt too heavy and isolated as a single movement, lasting just over six minutes in an architectural form. ?Mars Mountain March? thus introduces some of the main motives in a more accessible fashion and more traditional form. The second reason was practical: ?Olympinublius?, while Grade IV, may sound too modernist for audiences around the world. Mars Mountain March, on the other hand, is Grade III, and is more accessible while still retaining the zest of Olympinublius. Thus, average average concert goers can listen to the first movement alone, while more adventurous audiences can hear both movements without sensing a loss in musicality or cohesiveness. As with the original Olympinublius, the main feature of the program remains Mount Olympus (or at least one of them), but with a brief storyline. Mars Mountain March depicts a ceremonial march up Mars Mountain (either Olympus Mons or the Areopagus) to honor the gods (either the Greek gods or the planets). Formally, the march includes two main themes, plus a Dogfight-- a noticeably more intense theme for contrast. Olympinublius depicts Mount Olympus with a thick cloud of the gods presence, creating an exciting, tumultuous, and stormy environment for the ceremony proper. Indeed, some storms can be entertaining, especially when you live near the mountains?or where thunderstorms and tornadoes are frequent.