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THE GREAT LITTLE ARMY
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ONE OF THE GREAT MARCHES WRITTEN, IN MY OPINION, BY BRITISH MARCH KING, KENNETH ALFORD, 1916. REFERS TO EMPEROR WILLIAM II CALLING THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE A CONTEMPTIBLE LITTLE ARMY. PERFORMED BY MY H.S. BAND, BEAUMONT FRENCH, MY JUNIOR YEAR.
highschool bands jazz bands college bands all region bands community bands concert bands honor bands interlochen arts academy marching bands national music camp tmea all state bands university bands
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Classical • Ensembles
Charts
Peak #54
Peak in subgenre #4
Author
Kenneth Alford - 1916
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
February 17, 2010
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.7 MB • 224 kbps • 2:56
Story behind the song
Dedicated to Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French (28 September 1852 - 22 May 1925) commander of the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. Army Order Issued by Emperor William II, 19 August 1914: It is my Royal and Imperial command that you concentrate your energies, for the immediate present, upon one single purpose, and that is that you address all your skill and all the valour of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English and walk over General French's contemptible little army. (from firstworldwar.com) The title is a response to Emperor William II calling the B.E.F a contemptible little army. Kenneth J. Alford was the pseudonym of Fredrick Joseph Ricketts. Kenneth J. Alford was derived from the first name name of his oldest son Kenneth, Ricketts middle name, Joseph, and Alford was his mothers maiden name. Frederick Joseph Ricketts was born in London on 21 febuary 1881. His father, Robert, was a coal merchant in Ratcliff. When Ricketts was seven his father died. In 1895 he also lost his mother, Louisa Alford. After he became an orphan he chose to apply for a career in Army Music. Since he was to young he had to lie about his age. The entry age for Band Boys was 15. To the recruitment officer he stated his birth date as 5th March 1880. Ricketts was chosen to join one of the oldest regiments in the British Army, the Royal Irish Regiment.He joined the regiment in september 1895. After a few month he joined the Band of the 2nd Batallion playing cornet. In 1896 the 2nd Batallion and its band was sent to India for seven years of foreign service. In 1904, after service in India, he became a student at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. While there, according to a story circulated among British bandsmen, he composed several works for fellow students who had been given composition assignments. One of the marches he is supposed to have written is Namur, which is credited to W. V. Richards. While at Kneller Hall, he also served as an organist and assistant director of music from 1906-1908. In June, 1908, he was appointed bandmaster of the 2nd Argyll and Southern Highlanders. Within a week of assuming command of this band, and at the request of his new commanding officer, he composed, The Thin Red Line, and dedicated it to the battalion. Ricketts served with the 93rd Highlanders for 19 years, transferring to a post with the Royal Marines Depot Band at Deal in July, 1927. When this unit was dissolved in 1930, he finally received the appointment that he had long hoped for: director of music of the Plymouth Division, Royal Marines. Under Ricketts' direction, this band became world-famous, traveling to Paris and Canada. During World War II, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and the band made tours of camps and factories throughout England. Frederick Ricketts was commonly known as Joe. He was forced to leave military service in April, 1944, because of bad health. He retired from the Band of H.M. Royal Marines on June 1, 1944. He died at his home in Reigate, Surrey on May 15, 1945. Just seven days after the war in Europe was over, and shortly after being operated on for cancer. As a composer, Ricketts, alias Alford, is viewed as the "British March King." His marches are finely crafted compositions and bear titles which reflect his patriotism. Some pay tribute to great British military victories.
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