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Joshua Fagan, PhD Candidate in 19th Century British Literature, University of Washington

How a British military march became the distinctive sound of American graduations

Graduates toss their caps into the air at the conclusion of the 2022 Dana Hills High School graduation ceremony in Dana Hills, Calif. Leonard Ortiz/Orange County Register via Getty Images

Graduations throughout the United States erupt with some familiar sounds every year: the passionate cheering of friends and families, the lofty grandeur of speeches and, of course, one very recognizable tune.

Most Americans – if they’re even aware of its name – know it simply as “Pomp and Circumstance.”

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