Colonel Bogey March, Kenneth J. Alford, arranged by Paul Burnell for duet - instrument in Eb, instrument in Bb

Download comprises both score and parts

Duration 3:20

Part 1 in Eb (Alto Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Horn) Part 2 in Bb (Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Euphonium)

The arrangement may be suitable for other instruments with the same transpositions.

Score shows parts transposed.

The key of this arrangement has been transposed from that of the original composition.

Programme note:

The 'Colonel Bogey March' was composed in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881 - 1945) a British Army bandmaster who later became the director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth. Since service personnel were, at that time, not encouraged to have professional lives outside the armed forces, F. J. Ricketts published his compositions under the pseudonym Kenneth Alford. Supposedly, the tune was inspired by a British military officer who "preferred to whistle a descending minor third" rather than shout "Fore!" when playing golf. It is this descending interval that begins each line of the melody. English composer Malcolm Arnold added a counter-march, which he titled 'The River Kwai March' for the 1957 film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. On account of the movie the 'Colonel Bogey March' is often incorrectly credited as the 'River Kwai March'.