Pomp and Circumstance Marches march to the first, and thought this the finest of all the marches. After a loud call to attention from the brass, a simple "staccato" theme, tense and repetitive, is played quietly by the strings, being gradually joined by other instruments before building up to an abrupt climax. This section is repeated. The second theme, confidently played by horns and clarinets, with contrasting triple and duple rhythms, is one which was sketched by Elgar a few years before: this is developed and ends with flourishes from the strings and brass joined by the glockenspiel. The opening "staccato" theme returns, concluded
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