Alfred Reed (January 25, 1921 – September 17, 2005) was an American neoclassical composer, with more than two hundred published works for

concert band A concert band, also called a wind band, wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind orchestra, symphonic band, the symphonic winds, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion famil ...

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

, and

chamber ensemble Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numbe ...

to his name. He also traveled extensively as a guest conductor, performing in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Life

Reed was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

and began his formal music training at the age of ten. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, he served in the 529th Army Air Force Band. Following his military service, he attended the

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

, studying under

Vittorio Giannini Vittorio Giannini (October 19, 1903 – November 28, 1966) was an American neoromantic composer of operas, songs, symphonies, and band works. Life and work Giannini was born in Philadelphia on October 19, 1903. He began as a violinist under the t ...

, after which he was staff composer and arranger first for

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

, then for

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

. In 1953, he became the conductor of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra at

Baylor University Baylor University is a private Baptist Christian research university in Waco, Texas. Baylor was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of the fir ...

, where he received his B.M. in 1955 and his M.M. in 1956. His master's thesis, Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra, was awarded the

Luria Prize Luria can refer to: * ''Luria'' (gastropod), a genus of sea snail * Luria gens, an ancient Roman family * ''Luria'' (play), a play by Robert Browning, published in 1846 People Luria is a surname, a variant of Lurie. It may refer to: * Alexa ...

in 1959. He was a member of the Beta Tau chapter of

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...

, the national fraternity for men in music. From 1955 to 1966, he was the executive editor of

Hansen Publications Chas. H. Hansen Music Corp. was an American music publisher founded by Charles Henry Hansen (1913–1995) in 1952 and incorporated in New York. Its music covered a broad spectrum of genres that included classical (opera, orchestra, band, choral ...

, a music publisher. He was the professor of music at the

University of Miami The University of Miami (UM, UMiami, Miami, U of M, and The U) is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida. , the university enrolled 19,096 students in 12 colleges and schools across nearly 350 academic majors and programs, incl ...

, where he worked with composer

Clifton Williams Clifton Curtis Williams Jr. (September 26, 1932 – October 5, 1967), was an American naval aviator, test pilot, mechanical engineer, major in the United States Marine Corps, and NASA astronaut, who was killed in a plane crash; he never went in ...

from 1966 until the latter's death in 1976. Williams' office was across the hall from Reed's office in the University of Miami School of Music, and Reed was chairman of the department of Music Media and Industry and director of the Music Industry Program at the time of his retirement. He established the first college-level music business curriculum at the University of Miami in 1966, which led other colleges and universities to follow suit. At the time of his death, he had composition commissions that would have taken him 31 years. Many of Reed's wind band compositions have been released as CD recordings by the

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra The is a professional concert band based in Tokyo, Japan. TKWO has been called Japan's premiere wind ensemble', one of the most influential Japanese wind bands,' and one of the world's leading professional civilian wind bands.' History ...

Works and arrangements

Works for orchestra

* 1962 ''Greensleeves - "What Child is This?"'' * ''American Sketches - No. 1 "Strings 'n Things"'' * ''American Sketches - No. 2 "Fashion Show"'' * ''American Sketches - No. 3 "Country Night"'' * ''American Sketches - No. 4 "By the Lagoon"'' * ''American Sketches - No. 5 "The Mechanical Doll"'' * ''Serenade'' * ''Suite Concertante'' for strings and harp

Works for concert band

* 1944 '' Russian Christmas Music'' *# Carol of the Little Russian Children *# Antiphonal Chant *# Village Song *# Cathedral Chorus * 1952 ''Symphony for Brass and Percussion'' * 1955 ''Lumberjack Overture'' * 1956 ''Ballade for Solo Eb Alto Saxophone & Band'' * 1958 ''Might and Majesty, a Biblical Suite'' * 1959 ''Music Man'' *# The Wells Fargo Wagon *# Till There Was You *# Seventy-Six Trombones * 1962 ''A Festival Prelude'' * 1962 ''A Sacred Suite'' * 1962 rev. 1986 ''Greensleeves'' Fantasy for Concert Band * 1963 ''A Festive Overture'' * 1966 ''Rahoon'' for Solo Clarinet and Band * 1967 ''The Music-Makers'' * 1967 ''Passacaglia'' * 1968 ''Intrada Drammatica'' * 1968 ''Wapawekka - White Sands'' * 1970 ''A Jubilant Overture'' * 1970 ''The Pledge of Allegiance'' for Concert Band * 1971 ''A Ceremonial Fanfare'' * 1972 ''A Northern Legend'' * 1972 ''

Armenian Dances Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

Part 1'', inspired by a collection of Folk Songs collected by

Komitas Vardapet Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas, ( hy, Կոմիտաս; 22 October 1935) was an Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who is considered the founder of the Armenian national scho ...

(1869–1935) *# Tzirani Tzar - The Apricot Tree *# Gakavi Yerk - The Partridge's Song *# Hoy, Nazan Eem - Hoy, My Nazan *# Alagyaz *# Gna, Gna - Go, Go! * 1972 ''Imperatrix'' * 1972 ''In Memoriam, an Elegy for the Fallen'' * 1973 ''Punchinello, Overture'' * 1973 ''Alleluia! Laudamus Te'' * 1976 ''First Suite for Band'' *# March *# Melody *# Rag *# Gallop * 1977 ''Armenian Dances Part 2 '' *# Hov Arek *# Khoomar *# Lorva Horovel * 1977 ''Othello'' A Symphonic Portrait for Symphonic Band in Five Scenes (after

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

) *# Prelude (Venice) - ''The tyrant custom hath made the flinty and steel couch of war my thrice-driven bed.'' *# Aubade (Cyprus) - ''Good Morning, General'' *# Othello and Desdemona - ''She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.'' *# Entrance of the Court - ''Behold, the Lion of Venice!'' *# The Death of Desdemona; Epilogue - ''I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this….'' * 1978 ''Prelude and Capriccio'' * 1978 ''Second Suite for Band (Latino Mexicana)'' *# Son Montuno *# Tango ("Sargasso Serenade") *# Guaracha *# Paso Double ("A la Corrida!") * 1979 ''Second Symphony for Band'' *# Lento (ma ritmico) *# Allegro con fuoco *# Molto moderato e sostenuto * 1980 ''A Christmas Intrada'' - Commissioned by the

Middle Tennessee State University Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or MT) is a public university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together off ...

Band; Premiered October 1981 by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band at the 20th Annual Contest of Champions at Middle Tennessee State University. * 1981 ''Acalarado'' for Marching Band * 1981 ''

The Hounds of Spring ''The Hounds of Spring'' is a concert overture for concert band, written by the American composer, Alfred Reed in 1980. Reed was inspired by the poem ''Atalanta in Calydon'' (1865), by Victorian era English poet, Algernon Charles Swinburne, a ...

, A Concert Overture'' * 1981 ''Rushmore'' * 1982 ''Queenston Overture'' * 1982 ''The Garden of Proserpine'' Symphonic Pastorale * 1982 ''Viva Musica'' * 1982 ''Third Suite for Band (Scenes De Ballet)'' *# Fanfare and Intrada *# Pas de deux *# Polka excentrique *# Danse generale * 1983 ''Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra'' *# To Awaken in the Light of the Universe *# To Contemplate the Depths of the Soul *# To Rejoice in the Beauty of Peace * 1984 ''Pro Texana'' Concert-March * 1985 '' El Camino Real'' * 1985 ''Ramparts of Courage'' * 1986 ''Second Century'' * 1988 ''Praise Jerusalem!'' * 1988 ''Third Symphony for Band'' *# Pesante e molto sostenuto Allegro agitado *# Variations on the "Porazzi" Theme of

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...

*# Allegro deciso * 1990 ''Mr. Music'' * 1991 ''A Springtime Celebration'' * 1992 ''Fourth Symphony for Band'' *# Elegy *# Intermezzo *# Tarantella * 1992 ''Hymn Variants'' * 1992–1993 ''Fourth Suite for Band - City of Music'' *# Intrada *# Arie *# Marsch * 1993 ''Concertino for Marimba and Winds'' * 1993 ''

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fol ...

'' (arr.) * 1994 ''Fifth Symphony for Band'' *# Moderately and sustained *# Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) *# Allegro molto, con fuoco * 1995 ''Fifth Suite for Band (International Dances)'' *# Hoe Down (America) *# Sarabande (France) *# Yamabushi Kagura (Japan) *# Hora (Israel and Rumania) * 1995 ''

The King of Love My Shepherd Is The King of Love My Shepherd Is is an 1868 hymn with lyrics written by Henry Williams Baker, based on the Welsh version of Psalm 23 and the work of Edmund Prys. It is sung to four different melodies: Dominus Regit Me, the traditional Irish tune ...

'' * 1997 ''Sixth Suite for Band'' *# March Miniature *# Summer Stroll *# Halloween Hobgoblin *# Awa Odori (Japanese Dance) * 1998 ''Prism'' * 1999 ''Millennium III'' Concert Overture * 2000 ''Children's Suite'' for Solo Alto-Saxophone and Band or Wind Ensemble *# Kiyoko's Lullaby *# Kiyoko's Playtime * 2000 ''Giligia'' (A Song of Remembrance) * 2002 ''Exhortation and Praise'' * 2003 ''Seventh Suite for Band'' A Century of Flight - composed as celebration for opening of

Noto Airport , marketed as and also unofficially known as is a domestic airport located south southeast of the city of Wajima on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an isla ...

Wajima, Ishikawa is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 27,698 in 12768 households, and a population density of 65 persons per km². The total area of the city was . Geography Wajima occupies the northwestern ...

, Japan and for centennial anniversary of Wright brothers' world's first flying by airplane *# prologue: Look to the Skies! *# Intermezzo: The Winds and Waves of Wajima *# March: To Fly With the Wings of Eagles * 2004 ''Ebo Signation'' * ''A Christmas Celebration'' *# Angels We Have Heard On High *# It Came Upon The Midnight Clear *# A O Comell Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) *# Silent Night * ''A little Concert-Suite'' *# Intrada *# Siciliana *# Scherzo *# Gigue * ''Acclamation!'' A Global Greeting for Winds' * ''Canto E Camdombe'' * ''Choral Prelude In E Minor'' * ''Concertino for Marimbaphon and Winds'' *# Nocturne *# Scherzetto *# Toccata * ''Concerto for Trumpet and Winds'' * ''Curtain Up! (A Theater Overture for Winds)'' * ''Danza Caribe'' * ''Evolutions'' * ''East And West - The Kohoku New Town March'' * ''Golden Jubilee'' * ''Highlights from

Exodus Exodus or the Exodus may refer to: Religion * Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible * The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan Historical events * Ex ...

'' (arr.) * ''

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (or simply "Joy"; German: ''Jesus bleibet meine Freude'') is the most common English title of a piece of music derived from a chorale setting from the cantata ''Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben'', BWV 147 ("Heart and ...

'' (arr.) * ''Jidai - Year Of Years!'' * ''Millennium'' * ''Music in the Air!'' * ''O Little Town'' based on "O Little Town of Bethlehem" - for Choral Ensemble and Concert Band * ''O Most Wonderful'' for Choral Ensemble and Concert Band * ''Ode for Trumpet'' for Trumpet and Band * ''Poetry and Power'' * ''Rosalind in the Forest of Arden'' * ''Seascape'' for Euphonium solo and Band * ''Serenade'' * ''Serenade for Clarinet and Band'' * ''Siciliana Notturno'' for Alto-Saxophone and Concert Band * ''Silver Shadow (Concert March)'' * ''Slavonic Folk Suite'' for SATB Chorus (optional) and Band *# Children's Carol *# Cathedral Chorus * '' Sleepers, Awake!'' (arr.) * ''Symphonic Prelude'' * ''The Big East March'' * ''The Crowning Glory'' * ''The Enchanted Island'' * ''The Golden Years'' * ''Twelfth Night'' A Musical Masque after

*# Prelude: Illyria *# Viola and Orsino *# The Merry Conspirators *# Malvolio's Lament in “Prison” *# V A Double Wedding, and All's Well! * ''Two Bagatelles'' * ''Victory! (Concert March for Winds)'' * ''With Trumpets and Drums'' for drums, trumpet, voice, and band

Works for choir and orchestra

* ''All Hall to the Days, Christian Madrigal'' for harp, piano or guitar in score, strings, mixed choir * ''The Pledge of Allegiance'' for mixed choir and orchestra

Chamber music

* 1954 ''Organ Meditations'' for solo organ * 1983 ''Two Bagatelles'' for trombone quartet * ''Double Wind Quintet'' * ''Havana Moon'' for Clarinet Choir (3 bb, Alto, Bass, CBass), Percussion, Strings Bass * ''Pastorale'' for Clarinet and Piano * ''Scherzo Fantastique'' for Bass, Contrabass Clarinet, Contrabass, Piano, Woodwinds * ''Siciliana Notturno'' for Solo Alto-Saxophone, Piano, Saxophone, Voice, Woodwinds * ''Trilogue, Scherzo'' for Double Bass, Vibraphone, Marimba

External links

Alfred Reed Collection
- Special Collections in Performing Arts at the

University of Maryland Libraries The University of Maryland Libraries is the largest university library in the Washington, D.C. - Baltimore area. The university's library system includes eight libraries: six are located on the College Park campus, while the Severn Library, an of ...

Alfred Reed interview
December 16, 1986 * {{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Alfred 1921 births 2005 deaths 20th-century American composers 20th-century classical composers 20th-century American male musicians American classical composers American male classical composers Baylor University alumni Classical musicians from New York (state) Concert band composers Distinguished Service to Music Medal recipients Musicians from New York City University of Miami faculty United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II