This month's free tab is an arrangement of "Land of Hope and Glory", composed by the English composer Edward Elgar (1857-1934) in 1902.   The melody was originally just the "trio" portion of a larger symphonic work titled "Pomp and Circumstance, March No. 1", which Elgar wrote to be used as the processional for the coronation of King Edward VII.  

Elgar had no real formal training as a musician or a composer.  His father had owned a music shop, and was also the organist for a local church, and Elgar picked up some knowledge just by working in the shop, and "tinkering" with various instruments, especially the violin and cello.  He rapidly acquired the fundamentals of theory and served as arranger with the Worcester Glee Club, becoming its conductor at the age of 22. Simultaneously he accepted a rather unusual position for a young aspiring musician with the County of Worchester Lunatic Asylum at Powick, where he was for several years in charge of the institution's concert band.  His first signal success as a classical composer came in 1890 with the public performance of his concert overture "Froissart", and was followed up with several cantatas.   In 1897, he was commissioned to compose the "Imperial March"  for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.  The words to "Land of Hope and Glory" were written by lyricist Arthur Benson at the request of Clara Butt, a well-known British opera singer who was asked to perform at King Edward's coronation.  It has since become one of the most well-known patriotic songs in England.

In the United States, the Trio section "Land of Hope and Glory" of March No. 1 is sometimes known simply as "Pomp and Circumstance" or as "The Graduation March", and is played as the processional tune at virtually all high school and college graduation ceremonies. It was first played at such a ceremony on 28 June 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. Elgar repaid the compliment by dedicating the Introduction and Allegro to Sanford later that year. The tune soon became de rigueur at American graduations, used primarily as a processional at the opening of the ceremony.

Here is a link to a YouTube video of the entire Coronation Ode, performed by the BBC Symphony and Chorus.

Enjoy!

In music and friendship,

--Tull

Here are the complete coronation lyrics to the chorus of "Land of Hope and Glory":