In this gripping composition, HAVASI sets to music a striking Latin poem Ad Martem, precatio pro pace (To Mars, a prayer for peace) by the late mediaeval poet Janus Pannonius. Pannonius was the earliest of the great Hungarian poets, writing in the land that was the first to receive the cultural fruits of the Renaissance from Italy.
The poem begins by describing the ferocity of Mars, the classical war god, and the awful devastation that he trails in his wake, and finally implores this deity of bloody conflict to spare the Pannonians, the ancient name given to the people who live in Hungary and surrounding lands.
The music perfectly captures both the fearful mood of menacing aggression and the gentle mood of prayerful supplication, with powerful positive energy triumphing in the end.
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Ad Martem, precatio pro pace
Gradive, quinti clare dominator poli,
spargens coruscas luce sanguinea iubas,
Iunone magna genite; Saturni nepos;
tutela coeli; summe Titanum timor;
gaudens tropaeis; pacis ac belli arbiter;
decorator hominum; consecrator Numinum;
Gradive, ferro tecte semper fulgido,
vastator agrum, dissipator urbium,
vacuator orbis; Tartari impletor trucis,
potor cruorum; devorator corporum;
lues virorum; mulierum execratio;
ditator inopum; pauperator divitum;
osor quietis; genitor obscenae famis;
auctor pavorum; concitor formidinum;
iam parce fessis, quaeso, Pannoniis, pater.
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’Ad Martem’ performed live at the HAVASI Symphonic Arena Show on the 21st of December, 2013.
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Composed by: HAVASI
Performed with the Dohnányi Orchestra Budafok, and the Academic Choir Society of Budapest
Featured artists:
Piano: HAVASI
Drums: ENDI
Irish flute: Daniel Szabo
Vocalists: Edina “Squirrel“ Szirtes, Miklos Vincze
Producer and Creative Director: Csaba Marjai
Arranger and Conductor: Peter Pejtsik
Editor and Film Director: Laszlo Krisko
Director of Photography: Zoltan Csincsi
Sound Engineer: Gabor Juhos
Costume Designer: Tamas Naray
Music Production Director: Miklos Lukacs