Jan van der Roost

Ceremonial March

In the course of the two centuries following the death of Henry Purcell in 1695, no British composer of any stature was apparent. Consequently, the break-through of Edward Elgar (1857-1934) as an internationally known and respected composer at the end of the last century, was of considerable importance. As a composer Elgar was largely self-taught and he looked towards the continent for his inspiration. He is without doubt on par with his contemporaries such as the somewhat younger Richard Strauss.

The Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost is a genuine admirer of Elgar's music and on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the composer's death in 1984 he composed the 'Ceremonial March'. Van der Roost was inspired by the most famous and frequently played works from Elgar's catalogue of works, the characteristic 'Pomp and Circumstances' marches, and decided to add his own, sixth march to the existing collection.