Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 4

Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar (trans. M.J. Retford; ed. Alfred Reed)

This work bears the designation Opus 39, No. 4.

General Info

Year: 1907 / 2000
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: IV-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: LudwigMasters Publications, through Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $80.00   |   Score Only (print) - $12.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II (3 players), including:

• Bass Drum
• Crash Cymbals
• Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

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. March No. 4 was completed on 7 June 1907, and dedicated "To my friend Dr. G. Robertson Sinclair, Hereford". It was first performed on 24 August 1907, in the Queen's Hall, London, conducted by the composer.

The march has an opening section consisting mainly of two-bar rhythmic phrases which are repeated in various forms, and a lyrical Trio constructed like the famous Land of Hope and Glory trio of March No. 1.

The trio of the march was used by Elgar in a song called The King's Way which he wrote, to his wife's words, in celebration of the opening of an important new London street called Kingsway in 1909.

In World War II, No. 4 also acquired words: a patriotic poem by A. P. Herbert with the refrain beginning "All men must be free" was used as Song of Liberty.

In the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, 'Pomp and Circumstance No. 4 served as the recessional. As Diana's veil was lifted and the couple bowed and curtsied to Queen Elizabeth II, the opening notes sounded and continued as they walked down the aisle of St Paul's Cathedral out to the portico and the waiting crowds.

- Program Notes from Wikipedia

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Eastern Wind Symphony (Clark McAlister, conductor)

State Ratings

• Florida: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Virginia Grand Military Band (Alexandria, Va.) (Loras John Schissel, conductor) – 15 March 2015
• Kearsarge Community Band (New London, N.H.) (Jim Wojewoda, conductor) – 8 March 2015
• Montclair (N.J.) Community Band (Jim Wasko, conductor) – 23 November 2014

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Land of Hope and Glory (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1907/2007)
• Nimrod (Flex Instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1899/2011)
• Pomp and Circumstance (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1907/2011)

All Wind Works

• As Torrents in Summer (tr. Davis) (1896/1968)
• As Torrents in Summer (arr. Rager) (1896/2018)
• Chanson de Matin (arr. de Meij) (c. 1890/1988)
• The Crown of India March (arr. Winterbottom) (1912)
• The Crown of India Suite (arr. Winterbottom) (1912/1913)
• The Empire March (arr. Noble) (1924/2020)
• Enigma Variations (tr Patterson). See: Variations on an Original Theme: "Enigma"
• Enigma Variations (tr. Slocum) (1899/)
• Enigma Variations (arr. Thompson)
• Graduation Suite (with Mouret; arr. Story) (2002)
• March of the Mogul Emperors (arr. Longfield)
• Land of Hope and Glory (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1907/2007)
• Nimrod (Flex Instrumentation) (arr. Bocook) (1899/2011)
• Nimrod (arr. Borsvold) (1899/2005)
• Nimrod (Clarinet Choir) (arr. Hautvast) (1899/2008)
• Nimrod (Saxophone Choir) (arr. Hautvast) (1899/2008)
• Nimrod (Woodwind Ensemble) (arr. Hautvast) (1899/2010)
• Nimrod (arr. Glover) (1899/2018)
• Nimrod (arr. Moerenhout) (1899/1954)
• Nimrod (tr. D. Patterson) (1899/)
• Nimrod (arr. Reed) (1899/1965)
• Pomp and Circumstance (arr. Kinyon) (1907/1969)
• Pomp and Circumstance (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1907/2011)
• Pomp and Circumstance Marches (arr. Caron)
• Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1 (tr. Retford; ed. Reed) (1901/1902/2000)
• Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 2 (tr. Retford; ed. Reed) (1901/2000)
• Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 3 (tr. Retford; ed. Reed) (1904/2000)
• Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 4 (tr. Retford; ed. Reed) (1907/2000)
• Salut d'Amour (arr. Hautvast) (1888/2007)
• Salut d'Amour (arr. Molenaar) (1888/2018)
• Sérénade Lyrique (arr. Hautvast) (/2011)
• The Severn Suite (tr. Reed) (1930/1973)
• Sursum Corda (arr. Houseknecht) (1894/1967)
• Triumphal March (arr. Pollen)
• Variations on an Original Theme: "Enigma" (tr. Patterson) (1899/)

Resources

• Elgar, E.; Retford, M.; Reed, A. (2000). Pomp and Circumstance: Military March No. 4 [score]. Masters Music: Boca Raton, Fla.
• Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Wikipedia. Accessed 9 July 2021