Land of Hope and Glory Land of Hope and Glory "Land of Hope and Glory" is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar and lyrics by A. C. Benson, written in 1902. The music to which the words of the refrain "Land of Hope and Glory, &c" below are set is the "trio" theme from Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1". The words were fitted to the melody on the suggestion of King Edward VII who told Elgar he thought the melody would make a great song. When Elgar was requested to write a work for the King's coronation, he worked
Pomp and Circumstance Marches friend Ivor Atkins". It was first performed on 8 March 1905, in the Queen's Hall, London, conducted by the composer. The instrumentation is: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets in B, bass clarinet in B, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in B, 2 cornets in B, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani (3), percussion (tenor drum, side drum, bass drum & cymbals), and strings. March No. 3 differs from the others in its opening mood, which is deliberately solemn. It begins with a dark subdued quick march led by low clarinets, three bassoons and the