Harry L. Alford composer / arranger

Harry L. Alford (August 3, 1875 – March 4, 1939) was an American arranger and composer of band marches.

Alford's first march for band was performed in Blissfield by a visiting show brass band when he was only fourteen. The success of this event encouraged him to compose marches and other works for the Blissfield band. He would continue to compose band music for the rest of his life.



Alford's best known work is likely that commissioned by bands. The director of the University of Illinois Band, Albert Austin Harding, commissioned him for some of the first football halftime extravaganza shows. These included his composition The World is Waiting for the Sunrise (1919). Another composition for Harding's band was The March of the Illini (1928, originally titled The Battle of Tippecanoe). Alford also composed music for Northwestern University band halftime shows.



Alford composed over 100 pieces of music. Two of his band marches are well known: Glory of the Gridiron (1932; written for director Harding and the University of Illinois Band) and Purple Carnival (1933; dedicated to director Glenn Cliffe Bainum and the Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band). Other marches include Law and Order, March of the Jackies, Skyliner, and Call of the Elk (official march of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks).