FOSTERING SELF-CONFIDENCE WITH MUSIC – “POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE IN F””
FOSTERING SELF-CONFIDENCE WITH MUSIC
SIR EDWARD ELGAR’S
“POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE IN D”
Re-Blogged from Dr. KAY’S BLOG now under reconstruction.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE YOU TUBE BELOW BEFORE READING THE BLOG
Sir Edward Elgar
You are now listening to a piece of music that likely brings your graduation to mind. This “grad pop” music was actually written by a 20th-century English composer – and a Knight of the realm to boot. His name was Sir Edward Elgar, and he is one of England’s most famous musical composers.
A Gemini, Elgar was born on June 2, 1857, in Broadheath, a village about three miles from the small city of Worcester in the English West Midlands. His father owned a music store in Worcester and tuned pianos.
In Elgar’s natal (birth) astrology chart, his Sun, Mercury, and Mars are all in the sign of Gemini and placed in his 10th house of career and vocational calling. This tells us that Elgar’s career, reputation, and public image were VERY important to him. His Sun in the 10th tells us he had the great capacity to lead others and to excel as a professional. He put a lot of energy into his musical compositions and eventually became extremely well known. He was one of those fortunate people who had a brilliant career AND received the love and adulation of his countrymen.
“Pomp and Circumstance” is defined as: the title of several military marches played at graduations. Elgar’s first Pomp and Circumstance in the key of D was written in 1901. It is by far the most popular of his five marshal compositions.
When Elgar wrote his first march, he absolutely knew his melody was a WINNER! He was overheard saying to friends that this kind of melody comes to a composer “once in a lifetime.”
It is a powerful piece of music that can give new life to the listener. If one is feeling depressed or down, the vibrations of this elegant piece can make you feel more confident — more in control of your life.
I remember using this Elgar composition as a therapy back in 1976. Back then I was recovering from breast cancer and undergoing nine months of intensive chemotherapy treatments. I was so weak and frail at the time, but would put on the record, position myself in front of my bedroom mirror, and force myself to stand as straight and tall as I possibly could. I wanted to make my body at least look confident and assured again.
After forcing myself to stand straight and tall, I would walk out of my room and down the hall – and then back to my room again. The powerful music played throughout my short walk — and my walk was in synchrony with the music. I did this daily for about a fifteen minute period.
Without a doubt, this music helped me FEEL better and more confident. I came to believe that I just might survive my breast cancer. I will be forever grateful to Elgar for writing such a stirring and magnificent piece of music. I continue to listen to his rousing march today. Amazingly, it still has the same effect and is good to listen to, regularly, as we ascend to higher levels of consciousness.
Interestingly, this popular piece was also made into a song called “Land of Hope and Glory.” It has become a national favorite of the English people. While there is no official national anthem of England, there are many songs which are considered appropriate to fill such a role. Land of Hope and Glory is one of them. Here are the lyrics written by Englishman A.C. Benson:
LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY
Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned,
God make thee mightier yet!
On Sovereign brows, beloved, renowned,
Once more thy crown is set.
Thine equal laws, by Freedom gained,
Have ruled thee well and long;
By Freedom gained, by Truth maintained,
Thine Empire shall be strong.
Chorus
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.
Thy fame is ancient as the days,
As Ocean large and wide:
A pride that dares, and heeds not praise,
A stern and silent pride;
Not that false joy that dreams content
With what our sires have won;
The blood a hero sire hath spent
Still nerves a hero son.
Chorus
I end my blog with a YouTube rendition of the powerful, rousing, British favorite – Land of Hope and Glory. I would suggest you stand straight and tall. Find your own unique body position that shows you are a confident and capable person. (It does not matter in the least that you are not really feeling confident at this moment. The music will help with that.) Put on the Elgar piece. March around your house – keeping in time with the Elgar’s rhythm. Most important have your body SHOW YOUR CONFIDENCE – YOUR CAN DO SPIRIT!
Be blessed, dear readers – and know you CAN DO the next step/s in your life.
