Pomp and Circumstance Marches Pomp and Circumstance Marches The Pomp and Circumstance Marches (full title "Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches"), Op. 39, are a series of marches for orchestra composed by Sir Edward Elgar. They include some of Elgar's best-known compositions. The title is taken from Act III, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's "Othello": <poem>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!</poem> But also, on the score of the first march, Elgar set as a motto for the whole set of marches a verse from Lord de
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