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.jpg "Rolled up music") The music of Elgar's Pomp and
Circumstance is a staple of American graduation ceremonies. From its
permiere the march received acclaim and admiration. It was only a
matter of time before the music of Pomp and Circumstance became one of
the world's most recognizable melodies.
Also included is a YouTube video of a 2005 Albert Hall London performance of Pomp and Circumstance by full orchestra.
The name Edward Elgar is
not usually mentioned among the great classical composers , in fact you
may never have even heard of him, but his most famous work, Pomp and
Circumstance, is one that all of America marches to each spring. Pomp
and Circumstance has become the defacto standard for processional music
at high school and collegiate graduation ceremonies throughout the
country. Chances are that each of you as well as your children and
grandchildren have (or will) march down the aisle on graduation day to
the strains of this famous work. The Pomp and Circumstance Marches were
first performed in 1901 in Liverpool, England with Elgar himself
conducting.
The World Debut of Pomp and Circumstance:
The reaction to Elgar's marches, and especially the first one (Pomp
and Circumstance), was immediate and profound. During one performance
in London the marches, under the baton of conductor Henry Wood, the
crowd simply refused to allow the concert to continue until the
ensemble had performed the march three complete times. The enthusiasm
for the piece continued in America a few years later, albeit for a
slightly different reason that set the piece on the road to becoming an
American graduation standard.
Pomp and circumstance
The Evolution of Pomp and Circumstance and Its Place In Ceremony:
In 1905 Elgar received an honorary Doctorate from Yale University.
At the close of the ceremony Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance was
performed as the recessional music. In the coming months Pomp was
played at numerous ivy league and other prominent colleges as a part of
their graduation ceremonies as well. From there the popularity of the
work led to it becoming the expected march to be played at such
occasions. In fact, outside of graduation ceremonies you will almost
never hear it in American schools or professional performances.
The Popularity of Elgar's Music Continues to This Day:
Back in England, however, Pomp and Circumstance is not known as a
graduation piece. In 1902 Elgar arranged Pomp and Circumstance to fit
with the words of another of Elgar's pieces, the Coronation Ode. This
arrangement was primarily done for financial reasons at the behest of
Elgar's publishers, and in the process the strains of the newly
vocalized version of Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 is now almost a
substitute national anthem for the country. Regardless of what side of
the pond you are from, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance is one of the
truly great concert marches of all time.
Tags: pomp and circumstance edward elgar elgar graduation music graduation song graduation commencement music commencement
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