Photo: Unknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Alfred Reed was born on January 25, 1921 in New York City, New York, United States and was credited as a conductor, composer and bandmaster. Alfred Reed died on September 17, 2005 at the age of 84. Education on record includes Baylor University. Credited works include Armenian Dances, Russian Christmas Music and A Festive Overture.
My Take
Alfred Reed is one of those composers who quietly shaped how millions of people experience live music without ever becoming a household name — and honestly, that's kind of beautiful. Born in New York City in 1921 and trained at Baylor University, he spent decades writing for concert band with a neoclassical sensibility that felt both accessible and genuinely substantive. Armenian Dances is an absolute masterpiece of the form — rich, dramatic, emotionally layered — and Russian Christmas Music has become a holiday staple for school and university bands worldwide. The man produced over two hundred published works, which is a staggering output for any composer. He passed in 2005, but his music lives on in rehearsal halls and concert stages every single year, played by students who may never know his name but feel his craft in their bones. That kind of quiet immortality is something most artists can only dream about.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Alfred Reed
- Name (Japanese)
- アルフレッド・リード
- Reading
- あるふれっど・りーど
- Born
- January 25, 1921 – September 17, 2005
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rooster
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Occupation
- conductor / composer / bandmaster / music arranger / bandleader
2. Background
- University
- Baylor University
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Armenian Dances |
| Notable work | Russian Christmas Music |
| Notable work | A Festive Overture |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Alfred Reed born?
Born January 25, 1921.
When did Alfred Reed die?
Died September 17, 2005, aged 84.
Where was Alfred Reed from?
Alfred Reed was from New York City, New York, United States.
What did Alfred Reed do?
Alfred Reed worked as conductor, composer, bandmaster, music arranger, bandleader.
What was Alfred Reed known for?
Notable works include Armenian Dances, Russian Christmas Music, A Festive Overture.
Conductor — see all → · Composer — see all → · More people from the United States →