The Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39 are a series of five marches for orchestra composed by Sir Edward Elgar. 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!" The best known of the set is the Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. It had its premiere, conducted by the composer, in Liverpool in October 1901. 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.
