# Pomp and Circumstance & MP3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091 "2007-05-22T16:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChicanoRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ChicanoRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicanoRojo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/1 "2007-05-22T16:17:37Z")
I work for a non-profit program that assists youths and adults achieve their GED diploma. We are having a recognition ceremony to thank them for their work and effort. As part of the festivities, we would like to use “Pomp and Circumstance.” As crazy as it sounds, we haven’t able to find a store that sells a CD with that song. I have found MIDI files, but no MP3’s. Anyone know where I can download for free an MP3 version of this melody? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/2 "2007-05-22T16:36:52Z")
Not free, but iTunes has several versions at $.99 a pop. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/3 "2007-05-22T17:07:19Z")
You could also get the soundtrack to Fantasia 2000 and rip it from there. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![ChicanoRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ChicanoRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicanoRojo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/4 "2007-05-22T18:35:14Z")
[QUOTE=fachverwirrt] Not free, but iTunes has several versions at $.99 a pop. [/QUOTE] Thanks to both of you. fachverwirrt–I’ll check tonite on my iTunes and dowload a version of it. BTW, how long is the original one? I download a free version via CNET, but I think it’s about 1m56sec long. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/5 "2007-05-22T18:46:02Z")
[QUOTE=ChicanoRojo] BTW, how long is the original one? I download a free version via CNET, but I think it’s about 1m56sec long. [/QUOTE] Most of the tracks I’m seeing on iTunes are between 4 and 6 minutes. BTW, “Pomp and Circumstance”, is, in fact, a series of five marches. You’re looking for no. 1 (in D). ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/6 "2007-05-22T18:51:52Z")
The full version is about 6 minutes long. The piece is in an abab form. The first b section is the one usually used for graduations and probably the part you got from CNET. The version I have of the march times that section at about 2 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/7 "2007-05-22T19:51:36Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] The full version is about 6 minutes long. The piece is in an abab form. The first b section is the one usually used for graduations and probably the part you got from CNET. The version I have of the march times that section at about 2 minutes. [/QUOTE] Yes, your best bet is to get the entire Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March #1, if you’re able to edit down to the part you want, then repeat it as necessary. ---
**Author:** ![ChicanoRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ChicanoRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicanoRojo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/8 "2007-05-22T20:33:26Z")
Thanks! I also found it at emusic. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/9 "2007-05-23T02:56:21Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] . . . .then repeat it as necessary. [/QUOTE] Also known as repeat until everyone in the auditorium, graduates, faculty and guests, are utterly tearing-their-hair-out buggy. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pomp-and-circumstance-mp3/405091/10 "2007-05-23T03:12:01Z")
[QUOTE=Billdo] Also known as repeat until everyone in the auditorium, graduates, faculty and guests, are utterly tearing-their-hair-out buggy. [/QUOTE] When my class graduated, they alternated the Elgar with Purcell’s [Trumpet Voluntary](http://www.trumpetsoloist.com/music/wedding/06%20-%20Track%20%206.mp3) through the procession, but as the graduation was in a cathedral, the Elgar was played on the organ and the Voluntary was played with live trumpeters (junior classmen from our school).