Royal Standard (Alf Young-George Pollen)

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• published: 10 Oct 2010
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Royal Standard (Alf Young-George Pollen). Alfred Young (1900 - 1975) was born in England and began studies of piano with his father. At age six he began violin lessons and became part of the music scene in Colchester, England. At age 13 in 1913 he enlisted in the army as an underage member of the Durham Light Infantry. In 1919 he went with his band to Russia as part of the Russian Expeditionary Force. His playing skills were very much in demand and he was a featured performer in concerts by the Durham Light Infantry band. In 1921 his unit was transferred to India. He studied for the entrance examination to the Royal Military School of Music and in 1924 he was accepted for bandmaster training. He graduated in 1927 and was appointed as bandmaster of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry band. He remained with this band until 1938 until he was appointed the first bandmaster of the Royal Army Service Corps band. He held this post until 1942 touring widely and giving numerous concerts. He was appointed director of music of the Royal Engineers band in 1942 and while on tour with the band in 1944 contracted malaria. He retired and eventually became the professor of instrumentation at Kneller Hall from 1959 to 1966. He is still considered to have been one of most underrated composer in Britain. During the war he wrote directed and arranged the highly successful radio and life concert series "Band Review", "Calling all Services" and "Stars in Battledress". He composed a considerable amount of music during his lifetime including well known marches such as Boots and Saddles, Sovereign's Escort and the superb march the Matador. He also composed Royal Standard under the pseudonym Earl Brigham.