The Graduation Song

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We all know the graduation songs that are pop songs. We all know who Vitamin C or who Green Day are. But what do you know about the graduation song that is played traditionally? Ya you know that tune you hear usually played by the high school band? It's called “Pomp and Circumstance Marches”. Originally it had 4 marches all together but the first one is most popular – plus we call it the 'graduation song' this side of the Atlantic. Here's a re-dub of the graduation song by Cubismo Grafico Five – a hip hop version!

Pomp and circumstance Marches were composed between 1901 and 1930. Edward Elgar set March No. 1 to words by AC Benson as a Coronation Ode of King Edward VII. It became the graduation song on June 8th, 1905 when Professor of Music Samuel Sanford had it play as apart of the Yale commencement ceremony. Edward Elgar – also a friend of the professor was the star of the ceremony and was receiving an honorary doctorate. The song was subsequently adopted by Princeton in 1907, Chicago University in 1908, Columbia in 1913, Vassar in 1916, and Rutgers in 1918 as their official graduation ceremony accompaniment. And the rest as they say is history!

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