Classical music about space, the moon, and the stars

Composers looked up long before rockets did. This page lists music about the planets, the moon, the sun, and the stars, and the pieces that films have used for outer space.

The planets

The Planets, by Holst. Seven pieces, one for each planet that was known at the time apart from Earth. Start with these three.

• “Mars, the Bringer of War.” A pounding rhythm with five beats in each bar.
• “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.” Fast and bright, with a grand slow tune in the middle.
• “Neptune, the Mystic.” A choir sings with no words from a room offstage. The door closes at the end, and the sound fades to nothing.

Pluto was found in 1930, after Holst wrote the music. He did not add it. In 2000, a composer named Colin Matthews wrote a “Pluto” to go with the set. Six years later, scientists decided that Pluto is a dwarf planet. Read The Planets listening guide.

Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter,” by Mozart. Mozart did not give it the name. It came later. Jupiter was the king of the Roman gods. Listen for: the last movement, where five tunes play at once near the end.

The moon

“Clair de lune,” by Debussy. The title is French for “moonlight.” Read Clair de lune for kids.

“Moonlight” Sonata, by Beethoven. Beethoven did not call it that. A writer said the first movement was like moonlight on a lake, and the name stayed. Read the Moonlight Sonata for kids.

“Song to the Moon” from Rusalka, by Dvořák. A water spirit sings to the moon and asks it to carry a message.

The World on the Moon, by Haydn. A comic opera from 1777. A trickster persuades a rich old man that he has traveled to the moon. Play: the overture.

The sun

“Morning Mood,” by Grieg. A flute and an oboe trade the tune as the sun comes up. Read the Peer Gynt Suite guide.

“Sunrise” Quartet, by Haydn. The first violin climbs out of a quiet chord at the start. Listeners gave it the name.

Helios Overture, by Nielsen. The Danish composer watched the sun rise over the sea in Greece. The music goes from dark to blazing and back to dark.

The stars

Twelve Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman,” by Mozart. It is the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” with 12 ways to dress it up. Read who wrote Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star?

“Music of the Spheres,” by Josef Strauss. A waltz named for an old idea that the planets make music as they move. Josef was a brother of the waltz king.

The Queen of the Night’s aria from The Magic Flute, by Mozart. The queen sings some of the highest notes in opera. Read The Magic Flute for kids.

Music that films sent into space

“Also sprach Zarathustra,” by Richard Strauss. The opening lasts under two minutes: a low rumble, three rising trumpet notes, and pounding drums. The 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey made it the sound of space.

“The Blue Danube,” by Johann Strauss II. The same film used this waltz for a spaceship that turns as it docks. Read Johann Strauss for kids.

Star Wars, by John Williams. The main title begins with a blast from the brass. Many listeners hear “Mars” in his battle music. Play the two side by side. Read John Williams for kids.

“Flying Theme” from E.T., by John Williams. A bicycle rises past the moon.

A space week

Day	Piece	Something to do
Monday	Holst, “Mars”	Count to five over and over with the rhythm
Tuesday	Debussy, “Clair de lune”	Turn off the lights and listen
Wednesday	Mozart, “Twinkle” variations	Hold up a finger for each new variation
Thursday	Strauss, “Also sprach Zarathustra”	Rise from the floor a little at a time as the music grows
Friday	Holst, “Jupiter”	Draw the planet

What to ask

• How does a composer make music sound far away?
• Is this planet friendly or frightening?
• Which instruments sound like starlight?

Draw each piece on a listening journal page. For more film music, read film music for kids. For more themes, read classical music about water, rivers, and the sea.