The King's Way The King's Way ”The King’s Way” is a poem set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1909. The words were written by his wife, Caroline Alice Elgar. Elgar employs the melody of the "Trio" (central section) from the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4, which he had composed two years earlier. This first occurs at the words ""The newest street in London town,/ Who'll pace it up and pace it down?"" The song was written on 27 December 1909 to celebrate the opening of London's Kingsway, a wide street in central London connecting High Holborn to the
Pomp and Circumstance Marches reserve" for the repeat, when the first violins join the violas with the tune. There are subdued fanfares from the brass interrupted by little flourishes from the strings before the opening march is repeated. There is pause, then a little section which starts forcefully but quietens, leading into the "Trio". The "Trio" follows the pattern of March No. 1, with the melody (in the subdominant key of C) played by clarinet, horn and violins. The violins start the "Trio" tune on the lowest note they can play, an "open" G-string, which gives a recognisable "twang" to this one note, and