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 timpani (3), percussion (side drum, bass drum & cymbals), and strings. Without introduction, its opening episode is extended with enormous confidence and proceeds directly into the "Trio" section. The "Trio" starts quietly in a similar way to the introduction of his First Symphony: just a moving bass line and a tune, also in the same key (A). The tune is re-stated strongly, as we expect, then developed. The re-statement of the opening employs the same instruments of the orchestra, but is this time started as soft as possible for just four bars before a quick "crescendo" restores its spirit to