Elgar (1857-1934) - March: Pomp and Circumstance No. 1
In view
of Elgar’s description of the Big Tune of his first Pomp and Circumstance
March as something that “comes once in a lifetime”, I think we can
take it that he was singularly proud of his creation. It’s therefore odds-on
that he really did dislike the “unofficial” setting of the Land
of Hope and Glory lyrics, at least until he later set them to the tune
himself. In this respect he was kin to Holst, who similarly disapproved
of I Vow to Thee My Country being tacked onto Jupiter’s Big
Tune. I’m with Elgar. I much prefer my Pomp and Circumstance No. 1
pure and unadulterated, although I’m comfortable enough with Land of
Hope and Glory performed separately as a sort of “English National
Anthem”.
It just
so happens that Elgar had concentrated his consummate craftsmanship on
the very bits where latter-day (notably Proms) audiences aren’t singing
at the tops of their voices, so we hear every scintillating note of the
thrusting dynamism of Elgar the imperial rabble-rouser in full flood. To
my mind, the scoring of the Big Tune is, comparatively, as dull as ditchwater.
I wonder, was this purely by chance, or was it an inspired flash of foresight?
Whatever, for those who don’t know them already here are the words of the
“chorus”, should you feel the irresistable urge to sing along:
Land
of hope and glory
Mother
of the free,
How
shall we extol thee,
Who
are born of thee.
Wider
still and wider
Shall
thy bounds be set,
God
who made thee mighty
Make
thee mightier yet
God
who made thee mighty
Make
thee mightier yet
.
© Paul Serotsky
29, Carr Street,
Kamo,
Whangarei 0101,
Northland,
New Zealand
Conditions
for use apply. Details here
Copyright in these notes is retained by the author without whose prior written permission they may not be used, reproduced, or kept in any form of data storage system. Permission for use will generally be granted on application, free of charge subject to the conditions that (a) the author is duly credited, and (b) a donation is made to a charity of the author's choice.
Return to: