Opens with synth-harp trills. Some heraldic synth-tones and soaring string timbres lead into a classical-sounding pastoral passage dominated by an "oboe" lead line; a subtle "harpsichord" motif runs in the background.
The pastoral section suddenly gives way to a some drum rolls and then a techno drumbeat, a rather shifting, start-and-stop drum-and-cymbal sequence that doesn't keep a consistent beat for long. Ends with some synth-cello bridging that leads into the next section.
Basically a part of the track Mars Mission Counter, but played a good bit differently (and, possibly, better) than on the studio release or at the 1999 Osnabrück debut concert. New voices are overlaid, notably a choir, giving the track more depth; also, a new complementary backing sequence augments the main body of the track. Presumably, due to the date of the concert versus the date of the Mars Polaris studio CD release, this must have been an early version of Mars Mission Counter.
Another neoclassical bit -- a slow-beat interlude with a wistful sound and the familiar harpsichord patch, then oboe, picking out the lead melody. Cymbal highlights are scattered throughout. A brief "string" solo at the end of the movement presages a second string-section bit that reminds vaguely of Museum Walk on Miracle Mile. Then another brief heraldic passage, led by strings and bells.
A brief neoclassical interlude -- quite beautiful -- before the neoclassical tones break into a short techno percussion piece again. The lead this time is played on a flugelhorn patch. This section winds down relatively quickly.
A few seconds of quietude, before a familiar 'drainy'-type noise and the piece launches into a stately marching-rhythm closing piece. The backing and melody slowly gain austerity and force as the movement progresses. Here TD rolls out the choir voices, the harpsichord, and the strings as backing; some effective electric-piano strikes are nice subtle highlights. The piece seems to be building a crescendo of sorts, but it instead actually just fizzles out with a sudden cutoff and choir voices to an unexpectedly sudden finish -- almost as if the track had to be unceremoniously truncated for time or other reasons.
(All times rounded to nearest 15 seconds and include bridges following song, if any.)
Large parts of this section have been taken from the site What Dreams Are Made Of by kind permission of the authors John A. Burek and Mark Schaffer.
Notes
This brief concert, performed as one continuous suite, was part of an event celebrating the topping-out of the new Sony Center skyscraper on the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin. TD (Edgar Froese and Jerome Froese only) played onstage accompanied by a troupe of dancers interpreting the music. The music was ultimately released as the ultra-rare CD single Sony Center Topping Out Ceremony Score, which was given to certain attendees of the show; some copies of the single were included as a bonus gift in the pricey Millennium Booster pack.
