Edward Elgar

Pomp and Circumstance No. 4

The five marches from the series 'Pomp and Circumstance'€, op. 39 are certainly among the best known compositions of the British Edward Elgar. They were written between 1901 and 1930, and the first march of the series, with its text 'Land of Hope and Gloryso became something like the unofficial English national anthem. March No. 4, which Elgar completed in 1907, is also distinctly solemn in its feel and presents a large melody in the trio section. Elgar used this melody again two years later for a song entitled 'The King'€,™s Way'. In 1940, during the Second World War and already after the death of Edward Elgar, March No. 4 also received a text. The poet A. P. Herbert wrote a patriotic poem for it, the refrain of which begins with the words 'All men must be free(All men must be free).' This text, together with Elgar's trio melody became known as the Song of Liberty. At the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, Pomp and Circumstance No. 4 served as the excerpt. The two strode out through the long central aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral to the waiting crowd to the solemn strains.