That's me humming Pomp and Circumstance in honor of my little boy's graduation. John-Heath officially graduated from New Hope Child Learning Center's Pre-K program tonight. I'll post pictures and news from the ceremony tomorrow.
In honor of John-Heath's big day, as well as our graduating senior class at the high school (many of these students were in my 3rd grade class during my eighth year as a teacher), I thought a little trivia about Pomp and Circumstance might be fun for today's post.
It was composed by Sir Edward Elgar in 1901.
Its full title is Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches.
A series of 5 marches for orchestra make up the total work.
The title is taken from Shakespeare's Othello:
"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!"
Even though we could not imagine one without it, it was not originally intended for graduations. Instead, the march was used for the coronation of King Edward VII.
Its use at graduations began in 1905 when Elgar was honored at Yale University with an honorary doctorate (played as a recessional). After Yale used it other ivy league colleges used it too and soon it became a graduation standard.
It was recorded in November 1931 at the opening of <a href="http://www.abbeyroad.com/">Abbey Road Studios</a> in London.
It was used in Disney's Fantasia 2000
Now, don't you feel better? When you attend a graduation this year and hear this familiar tune you'll have all sorts of trivia running through your brain.
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