The King's Way The King's Way ”The King’s Way” is a poem set to music by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1909. The words were written by his wife, Caroline Alice Elgar. Elgar employs the melody of the "Trio" (central section) from the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4, which he had composed two years earlier. This first occurs at the words ""The newest street in London town,/ Who'll pace it up and pace it down?"" The song was written on 27 December 1909 to celebrate the opening of London's Kingsway, a wide street in central London connecting High Holborn to the
Pomp and Circumstance Marches that year. The tune soon became "de rigueur" at American graduations, used primarily as a processional at the opening of the ceremony. March No. 1 opens with an introduction marked "Allegro, con molto fuoco." The introduction leads to a new theme: strong pairs of beats alternating with short notes, and a bass which persistently clashes with the tune. The bass tuba and full brass is held back until the section is repeated by the full orchestra. A little rhythmic pattern is played by the strings, then repeated high and low in the orchestra before the section is concluded by a