Pomp and Circumstance Marches facts for kids

The "Pomp and Circumstance Marches" are a group of five famous pieces of music for an orchestra. They were written by a British composer named Sir Edward Elgar. The full name for these pieces is "Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches." Elgar actually started writing a sixth march, but he never finished it.

The first march in this group is super famous! It has a tune that many people in Britain know very well. Often, people sing the words "Land of Hope and Glory" along with this tune.

What Does "Pomp and Circumstance" Mean?

The interesting title "Pomp and Circumstance" comes from a play by William Shakespeare called Othello. In the play, a character says:

Here, "pomp" means a grand and impressive display, and "circumstance" refers to the details and ceremonies that go with it. So, the title suggests a grand and formal feeling, like a big parade or important event.

The Famous Marches

There are five completed Pomp and Circumstance marches, plus one that was finished later from Elgar's notes. Each one takes about five minutes to play.

• March No. 1 in D (1901)
• March No. 2 in A minor (1901)
• March No. 3 in C minor (1904)
• March No. 4 in G (1907)
• March No. 5 in C (1930)
• March No. 6 in G minor (started by Elgar, finished by Anthony Payne in 2005–06)

All five of the marches Elgar finished were published by a company called Boosey & Hawkes. Elgar dedicated each march to one of his friends who was also a musician.

March No. 1 in D: The Most Famous Tune

March No. 1 in D is definitely the most well-known of all the marches. Elgar finished it in 1901, along with March No. 2. This was soon after a performance of another one of his works, "Dream of Gerontius," which hadn't gone very well.

Elgar dedicated this march to Alfred Rodewald. Rodewald conducted its first performance with the Liverpool Orchestra Society on October 19, 1901. Just two days later, both March No. 1 and No. 2 were played at a Promenade Concert in London. The famous conductor Henry Wood led the orchestra.

Elgar knew the audience would love the big, soaring tune in the middle of March No. 1. So, he made sure it was played second. Henry Wood later wrote in his autobiography that "the people simply rose and yelled." He had to play the march again, and then a third time, just to get the audience to calm down!

"Land of Hope and Glory"

The next year, King Edward VII was going to have his coronation in June. The King really liked the big tune from March No. 1. He wanted it to be performed with words at his coronation. So, Elgar used the tune at the end of his Coronation Ode. The words were written by A.C. Benson.

The coronation didn't happen in June because the King became ill. However, the song "Land of Hope and Glory" was still sung by a famous singer named Clara Butt in June 1902. The whole Coronation Ode was performed a few months later in Sheffield.

Today, in Britain, "Land of Hope and Glory" is sung every year at the Last Night of the Proms. This big concert takes place at the Royal Albert Hall and is a very popular event.

The words to "Land of Hope and Glory" are:

• Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
• How shall we extol thee who are born of thee?
• Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
• God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

In the United States, this famous tune is sometimes called "Pomp and Circumstance" or "The Graduation March." It's often played as students walk into their high school and college graduation ceremonies.

March No. 2 in A minor

March No. 2 in A minor was dedicated to another composer, Granville Bantock. It was first played at the same concert as March No. 1. This march is known for being the shortest and simplest of the group.

March No. 3 in C minor

March No. 3 in C minor was finished in November 1904 and published the next year. Elgar dedicated it to Ivor Atkins. The composer himself conducted its first performance on March 8, 1905, in London. This march starts out sounding quite serious, but then it becomes very energetic and exciting.

March No. 4 in G

March No. 4 in G is a very grand piece, much like March No. 1. It also has a big, memorable tune in the middle. Elgar dedicated this march to Dr. G. Robertson Sinclair, who was the organist at Hereford Cathedral. Elgar conducted its first performance on August 24, 1907, in London.

March No. 5 in C

March No. 5 in C was composed much later, in 1930. It was dedicated to Percy Hull, another friend of Elgar's from Hereford. This march is known for its brilliant and exciting orchestral sounds.

March No. 6 in G minor

March No. 6 in G minor was only started by Elgar. When he died, only some sketches (rough ideas) for the music were left. A musician named Anthony Payne recently found more of these sketches. He then finished composing the march in a way that Elgar might have done. The completed work was first performed on August 2, 2006. Andrew Davis conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra at The Proms in the Royal Albert Hall.

See also

In Spanish: Pompa y circunstancia para niños