One if by land, two if by sea . . . three if by Internet (sorry, I'm writing this on the eve of the Fourth of July).

Don't tell the Beeb that I told you, but the BBC Proms—that month-long classical music extravaganza that captivates British audiences every summer—is right around the corner. In fact, though most of the world will be fixated on the results of the 2012 London, England, XXX Olympic Games, audiences will be flocking to Royal Albert Hall and other concert halls, gathering around the Jumbotron at the village green, or otherwise taking in the upcoming eight-week summer season of daily classical concerts.

For the record, the festivities begin July 13 and wrap up on September 8.

Of course, the BBC doesn't much like to share this info with the Yanks—you'll get booted from the BBC Proms online survey, if you honestly confess to being from the Colonies.

Well, what they used to affectionately call the Colonies.

After all, that's public money—British pounds, that is—paying for the party and not a shilling is supposed to find its way back to the US of A (for instance, BBC Proms publicists diligently guard press photos and refuse to send them, you know, over here, beamed at the speed of light along invisible optical fiber laying on the floor of the cold, cold Atlantic Ocean).

But, fear not. That great equalizer, that marvel of Jeffersonian democracy, aka the Internet, will relay to the States the sights and sounds of even the most British of music—yes, I'm talking about Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March, No. 1, in D major ("Land of Hope and Glory"), which will be played on closing night.

And you can listen to it—free and in all its glory—steaming online on BBC's Radio 3.

Just don't tell the Beeb that I sent you.

Added by Greg Cahill on Jul 03, 2012 at 4:00pm –