Pumping the Landscape?!

One of my students are now practicing the Edward Elgar’s masterpiece entitled “Pomp and Circumstance”.
The title is taken from Act III, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Othello.
“Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, th'ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!”
The Japanese high-school student whose lessons have been held in English asked me the meaning of the title.
I answered her as above.
She told me about her misconception while laughing that someone made a hole on the ground to pump something valuable.
This music is known as Ifu-Dodo in Japan. The translation is a bit far from the original one. Ifu means a regal-looking, and Do-do means noble. I believe knowing the original Shakespeare’s play is important to understand the real meaning of the music. Such understanding leads to a more penetrating performance.

エルガーの「威風堂々」という曲は、日本でも有名ですね。この曲のタイトルは、シェークスピアの「オセロ」第3幕から来ています。曲名を正しく理解した上で演奏して下さいね。