Pomp and Circumstance

Ode to Will B

The title is taken from Act III of Shakespeare's Othello:
"Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!".[1]


In the United States, March No. 1 is sometimes known simply as "the graduation song," and is associated with graduation ceremonies. It was first played at such a ceremony on June 28, 1905, at Yale University, where the Professor of Music Samuel Sanford had invited his friend Elgar to attend commencement and receive an honorary Doctorate of Music. Elgar accepted, and Sanford made certain he was the star of the proceedings, engaging the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the College Choir, the Glee Club, the music faculty members, and New York musicians to perform two parts from Elgar's oratorio The Light of Life and, as the graduates and officials marched out, Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. The tune soon became de rigueur at American graduations.[3]


That is all fine and good, but this is much more interesting:

The tune is also widely recognised for its use as Macho Man Randy Savage's entrance theme.
The tune has been used in the Walt Disney film Fantasia 2000 for a scene about Noah's Ark.
The tune has been used in the movie A Clockwork Orange (film)

The tune is now being used in TNA Wrestling for Jay Lethal, who is doing a parody of Macho Man Randy Savage. This version of the song is remixed.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomp_and_Circumstance_Marches