Graduation Suite: Tuba
I. Processional: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 and II. Recessional: Rondeau from Premiere Suite
By Edward Elgar and Jean-Joseph Mouret / arr. Michael Story
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0018761_TB1
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Description
A must for any regal ceremony. The traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" has been scored for young full orchestra or strings alone. It includes a processional and the majestic "Rondeau" from Premiere Suite as the recessional. This arrangement would be an outstanding graduation choice for any level orchestra performing without graduating seniors. A welcome necessary arrangement for every library. (3:45) This title is available in MakeMusic Cloud.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Graduation Suite: Tuba comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Sample Audio
1
1 Graduation Suite - I
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2 Graduation Suite - II
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1 Graduation Suite - I
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Sample Video
Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Intermediate String/Full Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
SKU:
00-PC-0018761_TB1
More about this title
About the Composer: Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was an English composer whose works defined the sound of British music at the turn of the 20th century. His "Pomp and Circumstance" marches have become synonymous with ceremony and celebration worldwide, performed at graduations, state occasions, and formal processions for over a century.
Elgar's gift for memorable melody and orchestral color made his music immediately accessible to both audiences and student musicians. His arrangements and original works for developing orchestras remain core repertoire in school programs, balancing technical challenge with genuine musical substance.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the ceremonial grandeur that makes "Pomp and Circumstance" iconic without requiring advanced technical facility. Michael Story's scoring for Grade 2.5 orchestra means your students can deliver a genuinely impressive, dignified program statement rather than struggling through an overly complex arrangement or settling for a simplified reduction.
What to expect
The opening processional unfolds with stately dignity, each phrase landing with quiet confidence. The "Rondeau" that follows shifts the mood to something brighter and more celebratory, with a dance-like energy that feels both formal and joyful.
Who it's for
This is designed for orchestras at the Grade 2-3 level who need legitimate graduation ceremony music that doesn't strain their developing players. It works equally well for schools performing without graduating seniors who want to close a spring concert with ceremonial impact.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the opening processional with a steady, confident pulse; resist the temptation to rush, as the ceremonial nature depends on forward-moving but unhurried pacing.
- Balance the melody across your first violins and second violins so the primary theme projects clearly while inner voices support the harmonic foundation.
- In the "Rondeau" recessional, maintain the lighter articulation and dance-like character as written; it should feel refreshed and celebratory after the stately processional.
- Mark clear section entrances in your parts so younger players track the form confidently and can hold their rhythmic place through sustained passages.
How to use it
Use this as a closing recessional for a spring concert, graduation ceremony, or awards assembly. The two-movement structure (processional and recessional) works perfectly bookended around other repertoire, or stands alone as a complete ceremonial statement.
Skills your students will build
- Playing sustained melodic lines with consistent tone and phrasing
- Maintaining a steady pulse in slower tempos without dragging
- Balancing melody and accompaniment across multiple instrumental sections
- Executing articulation changes between stately and lighter character sections
- Reading and responding to clear formal structure across contrasting movements