Pomp
Origin
Anglo-Norman and Middle French pompe (French pompe ) splendid display (c1165 in Old French), vanities of the world (c1350; a solemn procession (a1502) and its etymon classical Latin pompa ceremonial procession, ostentation, display < ancient Greek πομπή a sending away, solemn procession, parade, display < πέμπειν to send, of unknown origin.
Definitions
- 1: a show of magnificence : splendor <every day begins … in a pomp of flaming colors — F. D. Ommanney>
- 2: a ceremonial or festival display (as a train of followers or a pageant)
- 3a : ostentatious display : vainglory
Description
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.
- The title
The title is taken from Act III, Scene III of Shakespeare's Othello:
- 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!"
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 Tabley's poem The March of Glory which begins
- Like a proud music that draws men on to die
- Madly upon the spears in martial ecstasy,
- A measure that sets heaven in all their veins
- And iron in their hands.
- I hear the Nation march
- Beneath her ensign as an eagle's wing;
- O'er shield and sheeted targe
- The banners of my faith most gaily swing;
- Moving to victory with solemn noise,
- With worship and with conquest, and the voice of myriads.
proclaiming the "shows of things": the naïve assumption that the splendid show of military pageantry –"Pomp"– has no connection with the drabness and terror —"Circumstance"— of actual warfare. The first four marches were all written before the events of World War I shattered that belief, and the styles in which wars were written about spurned the false romance of the battle-song. Elgar understood this.[1]
