{"id":40739,"date":"2024-03-11T14:45:31","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T13:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/1d2a79e2-a021-4a79-b111-bd12b77182f8"},"modified":"2024-03-11T15:41:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:41:15","slug":"elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance Marches: what they are, when he composed them and their place in history"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By BBC Music Magazine\n <\/p>

Published: Monday, 11 March 2024 at 13:45 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Synonymous with British pageantry, Elgar’s<\/strong><\/a> Pomp & Circumstance Marches<\/em> have been at the centre of many grand and state events including the coronations of George V, George VI and Elizabeth II<\/a>. ‘Land of Hope and Glory<\/a><\/strong>‘, a hymn adapted from March No. 1, is also likely to be performed at the Coronation of King Charles III<\/a> on 6 May. <\/p>

Browse all our Coronation articles<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>
<\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-pomp-and-circumstance-marches\">What are the <em>Pomp and Circumstance Marches<\/em>?<\/h2><p> The <i><b>Pomp and Circumstance Marches<\/b><\/i> (full title <i>Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches<\/i>), Op. 39, are a series of five (or six) <strong>marches<\/strong> for orchestra composed by Elgar. The composer produced the first four in his forties, between the years 1901 and 1907. The fifth was published more than two decades after the first four, in 1930, just a few years before Elgar’s death. A sixth <em>Pomp and Circumstance March<\/em> was compiled posthumously from sketches by Elgar.<\/p><p><em>Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1<\/em> is best known for its trio section, adapted into the popular anthem <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/land-of-hope-and-glory-what-are-the-lyrics-and-what-do-they-mean\"><strong>‘Land of Hope and Glory’,<\/strong><\/a> which was first performed in its instrumental form in 1901, when it was encored twice. Today it is a firm and central fixture of<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-last-night-of-the-proms\">Last Night of the Proms<\/a><\/strong>, when it is sung with gusto by the audience.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-many-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-are-there\">How many <em>Pomp and Circumstance<\/em> <em>Marches<\/em> are there?<\/h2><p> Elgar composed five marches in total. Sadly he only made preparatory sketches for the sixth and final march. However, composer and Elgar scholar <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/composer-anthony-payne-dies-aged-84\"><strong>Anthony Payne<\/strong><\/a> made an inspired realisation of the sixth <em>March<\/em>, based on Elgar’s notes. This new <em>March <\/em>got its world premiere at the 2006 Proms.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Elgar \/ Payne Pomp & Circumstance No.6\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bv9fFk1miuY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-are-they-called-pomp-and-circumstance\">Why are they called <em>Pomp and Circumstance<\/em>?<\/h2><p> Elgar named them Pomp and Circumstance after a phrase in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/shakespeare-music\"><strong>Shakespeare’s<\/strong><\/a> <em>Othello:<\/em><\/p><p>‘Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,The spirit-stirring drum, th’ear-piercing fife,The royal banner, and all quality,Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!’<\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/classical-music-inspired-shakespeare\">Classical music inspired by Shakespeare<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p> We know that Elgar was a great admirer of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/shakespeare-music\/\">Shakespeare<\/a><\/strong> and liked to sew the Bard’s words and characters into his music. After all, he made Henry V’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/the-best-recordings-of-elgars-falstaff\"><strong>Falstaff<\/strong><\/a> into a superbly colourful orchestral piece. <\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-did-elgar-compose-his-pomp-and-circumstances-marches\">When did Elgar compose his <em>Pomp and Circumstances Marches<\/em>?<\/h2><p> Elgar composed the first of his five Pomp and Circumstances Marches in 1901. Little did he know that the central <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/musical-terms\/what-is-a-melody\">melody<\/a> <\/strong>would soon rival ‘<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/god-save-the-queen-lyrics\">God Save The King<\/a><\/strong>‘ in popularity. <\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/coronation-marches-and-anthems-10-of-the-best\"><strong>Coronation marches and anthems: ten of the best<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><p> After conducting the first promenade performance, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/who-was-sir-henry-wood\">Sir Henry Wood<\/a><\/strong> reported: “The people simply rose and yelled. I had to play it again – with the same result; they refused to let me go on with the programme… Merely to restore order, I played the march a third time. And that was the only time in history of the promenade concerts that an orchestral item was awarded a double encore.” <\/p><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/richard-morrison-who-will-join-purcell-elgar-and-britten-as-british-composing-greats\">Richard Morrison: Who will join Purcell, Elgar and Britten as British composing greats?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Of the remaining four completed <em>Pomp and Circumstance Marches<\/em> – composed respectively in 1901, 1904, 1907 and 1930 – it was the Fourth that Elgar particularly intended as a serious rival to No.1. It is testimony to the composer’s remarkable creative skills that he nearly succeeded in the attempt.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pomp and Circumstance March no.4 (BBC Proms)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_5clRHSbiFw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-best-recording-of-elgar-s-pomp-and-circumstance-marches\"><strong>What is the best recording of Elgar’s <em>Pomp and Circumstance Marches<\/em>?<\/strong><\/h2><p><strong>Royal Philharmonic Orchestra\/ Norman Del Mar DG 429 7132<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-800x802\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-purple-m101-price-comparsion\"><div class=\"m101\" data-type=\"price-comparison\" data-template=\"default\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Elgar-Enigma-Variations-Circumstance-Norman\/dp\/B0060P47SA\/ref=sr_1_2\" data-title=\"\" data-config=\"{"searchKeywords":"","excludeKeywords":"","price":"13","delta":"50","limit":"4"}\"\/><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-three-more-great-recordings\"><em>Pomp and Circumstance Marches:<\/em> Three more great recordings<\/h3><p><strong>London Philharmonic Orchestra \/ Sir Adrian Boult<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"wp-block-purple-m101-price-comparsion\"><div class=\"m101\" data-type=\"price-comparison\" data-template=\"default\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Elgar-Orchestral-Variations-Circumstance-Marches\/dp\/B00000DO96\/ref=sr_1_1\" data-title=\"\" data-config=\"{"searchKeywords":"","excludeKeywords":"","price":"4","delta":"50","limit":"4"}\"\/><\/div><p><strong>Philharmonia \/ New Philharmonia \/ Sir John Barbirolli<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"wp-block-purple-m101-price-comparsion\"><div class=\"m101\" data-type=\"price-comparison\" data-template=\"default\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Elgar-Circumstance-Marches-Cockaigne-Froissart\/dp\/B0000241DP\/ref=sr_1_2\" data-title=\"\" data-config=\"{"searchKeywords":"","excludeKeywords":"","price":"18","delta":"50","limit":"4"}\"\/><\/div><p><strong>London Philharmonic Orchestra \/ Sir Charles Mackerras<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"wp-block-purple-m101-price-comparsion\"><div class=\"m101\" data-type=\"price-comparison\" data-template=\"default\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Elgar-Enigma-Variations-Circumstance-Marches\/dp\/B0027CAQ8K\/ref=sr_1_9\" data-title=\"\" data-config=\"{"searchKeywords":"","excludeKeywords":"","price":"14","delta":"50","limit":"4"}\"\/><\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Norman del Mar\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/artist\/29gUnTDtD1mi1lDp5gb77H?utm_source=oembed\"\/><\/div><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-box is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><ul><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/how-did-elgar-help-poland-during-world-war-one\/\">How did Elgar help Poland during World War One?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/five-essential-works-elgar\/\">Five essential works by Elgar<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By BBC Music Magazine Published: Monday, 11 March 2024 at 13:45 PM Synonymous with British pageantry, Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance Marches have been at the centre of many grand and state events including the coronations of George V, George VI and Elizabeth II. ‘Land of Hope and Glory‘, a hymn adapted from March No. 1, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":40740,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history.png",1114,742,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history-768x512.png",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history-1024x682.png",800,533,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history.png",1114,742,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/03\/elgars-pomp-and-circumstance-marches-what-they-are-when-he-composed-them-and-their-place-in-history.png",1114,742,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By BBC Music Magazine Published: Monday, 11 March 2024 at 13:45 PM Synonymous with British pageantry, Elgar’s Pomp & Circumstance Marches have been at the centre of many grand and state events including the coronations of George V, George VI and Elizabeth II. ‘Land of Hope and Glory‘, a hymn adapted from March No. 1,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/40739"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}