Royal Standard (Alf Young-George Pollen)

Royal Standard (Alf Young-George Pollen). Alfred Young (1900 - 1975) was born in England and began studies of piano with his father. At age 13 in 1913 he enlisted in the army as an underage member of the Durham Light Infantry. 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 was appointed director of music of the Royal Engineers band in 1942 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. 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.