after school

Another memory that stems from classical music played during my early schooldays is hearing the piece titled Venus from the Planets Suite. I also strongly related to Mars and Mercury at the time these were originally heard by me in school assemblies. We had a different planet played to us each week, I recall. Not every classical piece of music played during my schooldays stands out in my memory, but this was one of only two classics I can still relate to, many decades later, that was originally played back in primary school.

I specifically enjoyed Venus, Mars and Mercury, so asked my parents to buy me the disc to play at home. They managed to find the album and bought it for either a birthday or Christmas gift for me in 1975. I played it only a few times, however. When I played it at home, I was usually in the lounge alone. The music was strong and powerful, full of emotional blast, and it frightened me. Mars and Mercury especially, although I did not react so fearfully to Venus and some of the other tracks.

I reencountered some of these planetary pieces later on in my life, upon various compilation releases. My original copy of the entire collection remains somewhere in my parent's home, situated on the other side of the world to where I currently live. I think that I will always prefer Venus over Mars and Mercury, even if it no longer frightens me. It is more gentle and relaxing.