Kenneth J Alford

Kenneth J. Alford

Biography

Kenneth Joseph Alford is a pseudonym taken by Major Fredrick Joseph Ricketts (21 February 1881, London - 15 May 1945, Reigate, England).

As a composer Ricketts is best known for his marches, the most famous of which being Colonel Bogey. British officers of his day were not encouraged to pursue interests outside the Army so, as a lieutenant, he published works under a pseudonym. The first name, "Kenneth," was that of his eldest son, and the surname, "Alford", was his mother's maiden name. Alford is known as "The British March King."

Most of Rickett’s marches were composed during the decades of his appointment as bandmaster of the Second Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. As the dark clouds of World War II began forming on the horizon, he turned his energies toward helping the war effort the best way that he knew, composing marches celebrating the efforts of the gallant men defending Great Britain.

Works for Winds

• Army of the Nile (1941)
• By Land and Sea (1941)
• Cavalry of the Clouds (1923)
• Colonel Bogey (1914)
• Colonel Bogey (ed. Fennell) (1914/1982)
• Colonel Bogey on Parade (1934)
• Dunedin (1928)
• Eagle Squadron (1942)
• Eagle Squadron (arr. Rogers) (1942/2016)
• Great Little Army, The (1916)
• HM Jollies (1929)
• Holyrood (1912)
• Lightning Switch Fantasia, The (1924)
• The Mad Major (ed. Fennell) (1921/1983)
• Middy, The (arr. Gore) (1917)
• Musical Switch, A (1921)
• Old Panama (1929)
• On the Quarter Deck (1917)
• Standard of St George, The (1930)
• Thin Red Line, The (1908/1925)
• Vanished Army, The (1918)
• The Vanished Army (ed. Fennell) (1919/1986)
• Vedette, The (1913)
• Voice of the Guns, The (1917)

References

• Band Music PDF Library
• Perkins, John. "In Search of the Authentic Alford." Winds Magazine, (Summer 1994): 12–13.
• Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 503-504.