# War theme classical songs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 7, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152 "2005-04-07T03:02:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152/21 "2005-04-08T02:18:16Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> _Mars_ from Gustav Holst’s _The Planets_.

I will second, and add the subtitile in case the OP doesn’t know it, Mars: The Bringer of War.

You could then end with Venus: The Bringer of Peace.

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152/22 "2005-04-08T03:35:10Z")

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I hope it’s not a nitpick to point out that “songs” have words. You probably don’t want songs, probably not even instrumental versions of songs.

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**Author:** ![Estilicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Estilicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Estilicon)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152/23 "2005-04-08T10:44:19Z")

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It was composed for a movie about a different war (U.S.A. Civil War), but the music of Glory by James Horner is just great.  
There are few pieces more epic than “The assault on Fort Wagner”

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**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-theme-classical-songs/298152/24 "2005-04-08T10:57:55Z")

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Marc Blitzstein wrote _The Airborne Symphony_ in 1946 about WWII, but I think most of the twelve sections have words. “The Ballad of the Bombardier (Emily)” is one of the most moving things I’ve ever heard, though–it stopped the show at the Encores! Bash last November.

Another vote for _Victory at Sea_ and Britten’s _War Requiem_.

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