Pomp and Circumstance Marches splendid show of military pageantry—"Pomp"—has no connection with the drabness and terror—"Circumstance"—of actual warfare. The first four marches were all written before the events of World War I shattered that belief, and the styles in which wars were written about spurned the false romance of the battle-song. The "Pomp and Circumstance" marches are The first five were all published by Boosey & Co. as Elgar's Op. 39, and each of the marches is dedicated to a particular musical friend of Elgar's. Each march takes about five minutes to play. March No. 1, was composed in 1901 and dedicated "to my
Dirck Gerritsz Pomp Japan. After the expedition leader Mahu died during 1598, Pomp was given command of the "Blijde Boodschap" ("Good Tiding" or "Gospel"). Strong and adverse winds dispersed the fleet when it tried to pass through the Straits of Magellan at the foot of South America late in 1599. The "Blijde Boodschap" passed the Straits, but was blown off her course southwardly. According to the account of Jacob le Maire, Pomp observed mountainous land at latitude (64°). If so, these were the South Shetland Islands, and possibly the first European sighting of (isles off) Antarctica. Other accounts, however, do not note this