The cover of this song is one that fascinates. We know that the exploration of space and Mars has gotten a lot of attention these last few years but what many do not realize is that the fascination with Mars goes back many centuries. The appearance of canal-like features has always stimulated the mind of man as to the possibility of life on Mars. Here, in 1901, Paull converts that fascination to music with one of his typically long and rousing marches.

This is one of Paull's own original works. Many of his published works were arrangements of other composers work, as in the case of the March Victorious and Signal From Mars featured here. When we think of "Ben Hur", the 1959 movie of the same name starring Charleton Heston is what comes to mind for most of us. However, the actual story was first published in 1880 by general Lew Wallace and was a mega-hit at the time. The story was made into a movie way back in 1925 for the first time. That original movie has a chariot race scene that rivals the 1959 film's race. This song evokes the excitement, tragedy and victory of the famed chariot race scene.

With Memorial Day just past us, this song is also a timely reminder of the great victory gained for us all in WWI. This march celebrates the allied victory and more specifically, the U.S. involvement. The cover is glorious in its colors and with Miss. Liberty proclaiming victory.

Apparently E.T. Paull was feeling mortal when he wrote this epic march as he has a lengthy "explanitory" on the inside cover that states it is the "culmination of his best efforts" and represents his "magnum opus". I have included a thumbnail of the explanitory and if you click on it after you start the music, you can read for yourself what the composer had to say about this work as you listen to it. The work is a programmatic one and the musical themes all represent various episodes of the burning of Rome so reading the explanitory is highly reccomended.