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G u e s t b o o k 2000
|
Guestbook entries for the year 2000 are published below: |
I think that Leroy Anderson is a great and brillant composer. My personal
favorites are: Sleigh Ride, Buglars Holiday, The Typewriter, and The Syncopated Clock.
Which I have played part in my music concert. THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL WEBSITE ABOUT MR. ANDERSON. I AM AN ELEMENTARY MUSIC
TEACHER AND HAVING DECIDED TO MAKE ANDERSON ONE OF MY COMPOSERS OF THE MONTH, I NEEDED
MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT A GREAT MAN. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Leroy Anderson from the recent PBS
special. I grew up hearing his songs and am very happy to now know about the composer! An outstanding band director and composer, Leroy will forever be missed by musicians
the world over. His writings shine with such clarity and humor, like none other before
him. His music will continue to be a large part of our music programs, and this, then, is
the real tribute to his talent, isn't it? It was a real thrill to see "Once Upon a Sleigh Ride" last night on PBS.
The concert footage revealed the virtuoso requirements of the music, and showed how
audiences delight to it. It was also great to hear Mr. Anderson speaking about his music
and seeing him conduct and perform it. Thank you to the Anderson family for making this
program possible. I hope we will see more CD releases like the Walking Frog CD of the Air
Force Band conducted by Mr. Anderson. Everyone should hear this great music - often!
YOUR WEB SITE IS GREAT LEROY TImeless music with a sense of humor....Music I grew up with and love to share I just saw the PBS special yesterday and I remember most of these songs from my
youth.--- I just never knew who wrote them! This guy was great! Really enjoyed PBS' "Once Upon a Sleigh Ride"! He's one of my favorite
composers to play, and I just directed " A Christmas Festival" with my high
school orchestra for the first time. His music will always be with us! Please see my E-mail to the Anderson family.
I'm 54 and have knows his music since childhood. Never known that this brilliant man
was behind all this. Thanks to internet I'm happy to have met him! I've always enjoyed Anderson's music. My favorites are Serenata and Belle of the
Ball. But after seeing the wonderful PBS production of Once Upon A Sleighride", I now
know there is much of his music that I have never heard. I'm particularly interested in
Concerto in C. The concerto is listed as being done by the Cincinati Pops, with Eric
Kunzel. Does anyone know where I can get the CD? What a great composer! His music will live forever. I grew up with the music of Leroy Anderson, my parents had many of his records from
the 40's and 50's. I have just received the new PBS video and it brought back so many
memories of my childhood in the 1950's. I am also the librarian to an amateur light music
orchestra which includes many of Leroy Anderson's pieces in its concert repertoire. Thanks
also for the wonderful Website that I've only just discovered! Beautiful music by a genius. Saw a progamme about him on Swedish television, until
then I never knew what all these wonderful pieces of music had in common: the composer,
how silly of me. regards, A I am actively interested in scores & recordings of Leroy Anderson's music. We
wish to perform works for a major college reunion in June 2002. This is the start, but
anyone with helpful suggestions is invited to help: Songs, piano works of interest and
unusual character, choral arrangements of Harvard songs, chamber music, jazzy stuff, etc.
I played flute in orchestras at McMichael Intermediate and Northwestern High School
in Detroit in the 1940's. Leroy Anderson's music was always fun to play and woke us up,
and it was treated just as seriously as our pieces by Bach. Now I live in Woodbury, where
Anderson lived for so many years. He had died by 1965 when I moved here, so I never met
him. However, his widow and his children keep his legend alive: there is a town bandstand
dedicated to his name, and each summer at our Picnic and Pops concert by the Waterbury
Symphony, Anderson's piece "Fanfare to Woodbury" is played.
The program on PBS was delightful. I was happy finally learn the name of the
composer of so many familiar tunes I have heard since childhood. What a fascinating life
Mr. Anderson had, and what a wonderful legacy he left us. I've always enjoyed Mr. Anderson's music. What a wonderful talent he had. It was wonderful to watch "Once Upon a Sleigh Ride" last night on New
York's Channel 13. The music remains very evocative for me, transporting me right back to
my childhood in the Long Island of the '50's. My first musical memory is of this great
composer, for my parents must have had an album of his and I remember playing it over and
over again, along with my other favorite, music from Alice in Wonderland. Almost half a
century later, I still think Anderson was great and I am more convinced than ever that we
could more composers like him.
I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to discover your web site. I have
enjoyed Leroy Anderson's music since I childhood -- even before I really knew who he was.
In the past few years I have spent a good deal of time trying to locate various recordings
of his music, especially some of the old vinyl recordings on Decca. (Yes, I do have the
two CD set from MCA). Thank you for helping to keep alive the memory of one of America's
true musical geniuses. Just visit your homesite and rememberd my childhood in the fifthies, when i listened
to Leroy Anderson at 12 o clock every day. Wonderful music, know just about every one of
them Love Inger ! I had a wonderful evening watching the program on public t.v. Love the music!!!!!.
Thanks. Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival are two of my most favorite pieces of Christmas
music. As a trumpet player, I find Leroy Anderson's compositions as wonderful to play as
well as to hear. Excellent site. Thank you ! Mr. Anderson is to me all things in life that are
good,wholesome and precious. Since I was a teen-ager (many moons ago)I've loved the music
of Mr. Anderson. His music is so much a part of my roots I can't imagine being in a world
without "A Waltzing Cat" or "Syncopated Clock"... God bless you Mr.
Anderson I play trombone in the Bartlett Community Concert Band; many
great tunes by this prolific composer. I came looking for program notes and found them
here! I have the beautiful LP recording of "A Christmas
Festival", music arranged and conducted by Leroy Anderson. Does anyone know whether
this music is available on CD?
I love the page. It's perfect in every way. I grew up listening to my parent's Leroy Anderson recordings
in the late Fifties. Until I stumbled onto your website, I had forgotten that he wrote so
many great pieces! I ejoyed my surfing here very much. Thanks for the memories. All the
best, Kevin Gray Visited your site looking for some information for program
notes. Thanks for the info and the site. I would love to know when the PBS special will
air. I thought that this site was very uuseful to me while doing my
reaport.I liked that you could listen to some of his peices of music.I was reading most of
the reveiws and most of them were good.Excellant site Melissa H. I am an orchestra director at Eden Jr/Sr High School and have
performed Leory Anderson favorites with my school orchestras over the years. This year we
will perform "Sleigh Ride", the String Orchestra Carols and the "Christmas
Festival". I am so glad I found this site so that I can gather information for my
students. What a wonderful man! I was 16 yrs old and just entering high school at the 9th
grade level. I had learned music from piano lessons at church and was craving for more
training. I joined the high school concert band as a drummer and tuba player. Our band
director would select various arrangements by Mr. Anderson to inculde: Sleigh Ride,
Buglers Holiday and others. Most of the band's performances would either be for Christmas
or for our the Spring Concert usually held in late March or early April. My school was an
inner city school in Washington,DC and predominantly made of black students many of which
were from low-income families. Our director exposed the band to music that usually we
would not have privy to. The whole band loved Mr. Anderson's music because it had snap and
challenge for creating precious tonal qualities and sounds. The dynamics were lively. We
performed Bugler's Holiday much to our parents delight. Incidently, it was performed by
three of our trumpet players who many felt would not most likely to succeed in life. The
performance changed many of our attitudes. Many of the band members pursued music with
renewed sincerity after these performances. Finally, the musical arrangement that the band
favored the most was Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival. The latter being the most
favored. We enjoyed the overture effect of Xmas Festival, its touching on so many Xmas
favorites. When I got older I sought to purchase the recording of Xmas Fesitival and got
the LP. It was stolen from and desire greatly to replace it. If you can help me please do.
I love to play it at church and to the public during the Xmas season. I need the entire
recording and not just the Xmas Festival selection. I am a sure nuf Leroy Anderson fan.
Thank You I am the conductor of the GOLDEN EAGLE BRASS BAND, a 45-piece
community concert band in the Denver area. I am planning a concert for the Spring of 2001
with the music of Leroy Anderson. The title will be something like this: "Music of an
American Legend - Leroy Anderson". I have about 10 of the concert band arrangements
of his and am looking for more so that the entire concert can be about the life and music
of Leroy Anderson. If anyone has some of the more lesser known band arrangements, I would
appreciate the loan of them for our Spring concert at the end of April 2001.
I have always been a fan of Leroy Anderson and Always will be.
My favorite piece is "Blue Tango". I may be only fourteen years old, but that
doesn't mean I have to go with the flow. All I'd Like to say is "Thank you" for
the wonderful music, Leroy Anderson! Leroy Anderson isn«t only one of the graet american music,
he«s together to the best around the world and forever. His music is universal. This wonderful music reminds me of when I was a kid in the
'50s... I am doing a project on Leroy Anderson and honestly I never
have even heard of him. Then when I first came to the sight i heard a familiar
song,"Sleigh Ride". You're sight is cool. Thanks for the info!!!!! Interesting website, used to play Leroy Anderson on the piano
when I used to play. heather http://www.endhomelessnessnow.org Make a FREE donation to
homeless shelters I play the trombone in the orchestra and I love listening to
leroy andersons pieces I especially like the sleigh ride and I am looking forward to play
his pieces in orchestra. It's Fabulous! dear mrs. anderson ,i'm an israeli saxophone player ,and i'm
playing in the kiriat bialik orchestra. 3 weeks ago we started playing leroy's music ,and
my orchestra and myself have found it something incredible to play. we will try to play
leroy's music as good as we can, so it will sound as he wanted it to be. I am the Conductor and Director of Kiryay Bialik, Israel Band,
and we are happy to perform our next concert with a collection of 8 pieces were written by
L. Anderson. We are happy and enjoying to perform his music! Shalom Rony Kess-El Thank you! I am researching Mr. Anderson's work for program
notes at a concert by the Gainesville Community Band in Gainesville, Florida. Your web
site is very helpful, just what I was looking for. We try to impart a little of the person
behind each piece we play. Our audience will enjoy a little personal information about one
of America's favorite composers.
His music always brings a smile to my face. Blue Tango is one of my most favourite pieces of music by
Leroy Anderson. Fans of Leroy Anderson's music might like to know about a Canadian
pianist, Catherine Wilson, who has recorded Blue Tango on her disc titled CW. It is a
unique and delightful treatment. Thanks for the excellent site.
It`s upon time that Leroy Andersons music would be introduced
to the Swedish community far more than it is today. My suggestion is that the eminent
pianoplayer mr Robert Wells on his annual tour with the "Rhapsody in Rock" show
should include a set with some of the brilliant compositions of mr Anderson. Since mr
Wells has a huge symphony orchestra to his disposal it`ll be a worthy memorial and a
reminder of Leroy Andersons descent. I have known and enjoyed Leroy Anderson's music for many years
but knew very little about the composer. Thank you for this excellent site. I am looking
forward to seeing the Leroy Anderson video when it is aired on American PBS TV. Merci
beacoup! We were listening to Mr. Anderson's piece "Syncopated
Clock" in our music class and decided to get on the internet and see if we could find
any information about him. We are glad to have seen some pictures of him and we enjoyed
listening to "Sleigh Ride". We also wanted to know when he died. Thank you for
answering some questions we had. I enjoyed the site very much, however if anyone know where I
can find a sound file or clip of "A Trumpeter's Lullaby", i would appreciate it
very much. A great resource and full of interest. Does anybody know if
there is an arrangement of Blue tango for string quartet available in sheet music form?
Please let me know. One of my favourites in the 1950's I found your site while researching a homework assignment on
American Composers with my 10 year old son. I remembered Leroy Anderson by name but not
exactly for his music compositions. How suprised I was when I heard "Sleigh
Ride". What I remembered most of all, however, was listening to "The
Typewriter" as a child and how it captured my imagination at a young age. Leroy
Anderson is a name I will remember and look forward to seeing the documentary on PBS. - I, after reading all the lovely comments on Leroy Anderson,
felt compelled to add my feelings about Mr. Anderson. For many years I haved loved his
music. Years ago when I sang in Fridgidaire Chorus in Dayton, Ohio. We sang the Syncopated
Clock. Since then I have bought several of records on his music. I played it so much as my
children were growing up that they all love and appreciate this simply marvelous composer.
I wish I could have known the man as his music portrays a man of gentleness, fanciful
humor, and with "forgotten Dreams", my favorite, a loving heart. How grateful I
am for living at a time when I could enjoy such wonderful music. presently listening to a cd recording called, Blue Tango. The
original hit recordings of LeRoy Anderson Is there any way to post the times when the documentary will
be shown on the various PBS stations here in the United States? I am afraid that by chance
I will blink and completly miss it. Otherwise, will the documentary be available for sale
at some date? What a fine website! I found out about it just today from my
brother - after I mentioned to him that I'd found a used 2-CD set of Leroy Anderson's
music. Just as others here on this page have said, I grew up listening to the wonderful
melodies and the inventive themes of Anderson's music - and I would have no idea when the
first time I heard it was. In the crib, I suppose! I did discover some new (to me) songs
on this CD set, which have rapidly become among my favorites of his work - "The
Pennywhistle Song" and (I believe it's called) "China Doll" Sublime! And
I'd have to agree with several others here that "Forgotten Dreams" is truly
special. Many years ago an old college roomate of mine had a recording of
"Goldilocks" - which I loved. I've been looking for a recording of it ever
since! Does anyone know where one might be available? Someone mentioned "A
Stamp". Is the government considering issuing a commemorative stamp of Leroy
Anderson? What a grand idea! I first heard Leroy Anderson's work as a kid (about 5 or 6)
via Boston Pops recordings of "The Typewriter", "Syncopated Clock" et
al. You don't hear them much today but it's always nice to do so. Last night (8/8) I went
up to Portland, ME, where I had the great pleasure of hearing that town's mighty
Kotzschmar Organ, in the very impressively restored Merrill Auditorium. Summer concert
series are held there annually. Included in a very enjoyable program by the fine West
Coast organist Lyn Larsen were no less than four Anderson numbers: the standards
"Bugler's Holiday/"Fid- dle Faddle" (an encore medley), "Phantom
Regiment" and a lovely version of "Forgotten Dreams". On sale in the hall
was a Larsen CD recorded at Shea's Theatre, Buffalo, NY, with "Forgotten Dreams"
on it. My oldest and dearest friend lives in Niagara Falls, and he once told me that
"Forgotten Dreams" is one of his very favorite songs. He heard it on an album
called "Music from 'Dark Shadows'", the '60s cult soap opera whose waltz-time
"Quentin's Theme" was a Top 10 hit in '68. I made sure to tell Larsen on the way
out about this- he was delighted. Just thought others out there who know and like
Anderson's material would like to hear this. Thank you for keeping the memory of a great
American composer alive. I really enjoyed the documentary aired on the 22nd of July
2000 here in Sweden. It was the second part in a series about American music. (The first
documentary was about composer John Adams) I believe Anderson's music is refreshingly
non-great and truly entertaining. One thing made me wonder though. It was hinted at in the
program that 'fashions changed' and I see in the New Groves dictionary of Music and
Musicians that there are no pieces listed after 1962. There are one or two items listed on
this commendable site. Did he give up composing or what? Anyone? I am glad that he did not
accept the offer to become military attaché (right word in English?) in Sweden after
World War II! I discovered Leroy Anderson on the 22th of July this year as
SVT 1(the Swedish Television) broadcasted the documentary "The Unknown
Composer". That is, I discovered his name. His wonderful melodic music was known by
my heart long before that. His melodies speak cross borders. Now I'm looking for a CD with
a collection of his most loved songs. There are so many recordings and I don't know which
one to choose. I would like to have the "classical" recordings from the 50's,
but who was conducting? Was it Anderson himself or Fiedler? Can anybody help me
here?/Hans-Eric (b.1960),Solna,Sweden Hello. About two months ago, a friend of mine played
"Forgotten Dreams" on piano. I fell in love with that melody right away. I asked
him who wrote it, and he said: LEROY ANDERSON! Well i never heard about Leroy Anderson or
his music before, but i could not get that piece of music out off my head. The next day i
search the internet for facts about this mister Anderson. I stumbled across this fine
website and found to my suprise that he had swedish parents. i noticed that he had written
"The Typewriter" that i know very well. Now i am hooked on Leroy Anderson and
his marvelous music. And if this is not enough, last saturday (22 july) there was a
wonderful documentary on swedish televison about him wich i recorded. Now i am going to by
more Leroy Anderson records as i find them. //Michael I missed your video "Leroy Anderson, the Unknown
Composer" on TV last winter because I did not know it was on; I did not see it in TV
Guide or Starweek. Please tell me how I be able to obtain a copy of this video. Yours very
truly, M. Newfeld I would appreciate any information on the following subjects:
1. Is it possible to obtain video cassettes of Boston Pops concerts featuring Leroy
Anderson’s music? In the 1970s, I think WGBH in Boston broadcast some such concerts.
Is there any way to obtain these? 2. Is there any Leroy Anderson Society? You can contact
me at: hansenk69@yahoo.com Thanks for any help you can give. I have not yet had an
opportunity to search the archives at this site, but will do so when I get the chance to
see if answers to my questions might be in there!
I've just returned from a wonderful evening with Goldilocks. I
have listened to the original cast album ever since I was a child, but had given up hope
of ever seeing it done on stage. The score is as fresh, clever and beautiful as ever, and
it was performed by a delightful cast, courtesy of Musicals Tonight, a NY company devoted
to producing neglected musicals. Leroy Anderson's music is often performed, especially around
Independence Day. The 40th US Army Band will perform Anderson's arrangement of 76
Trombones at the Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort in Jeffersonville, Vermont on July 4th, 2000.
It would be interesting to hear of other performances of his music at concerts this
summer. Anderson's birthday on June 29th is one day that we can expect to hear his
wonderful music on public radio stations around the U.S. Strike up the band ! (or
orchestra, as the case may be) - An Anderson fan in Vermont.
I dearly wish that more of Mr. Anderson's less heard works
were recorded. I remember "Goldilocks" so fondly, and the Christmas music is all
so wonderful. It is my plan to race right out and find the 2 CD set which I understand is
available. I can only hope that it will contain "Forgotten Dreams",
"Trumpeter's Lullaby" and all those old favorites that decorate my memories. As
soon as the school year is over, I will write my letter in support of the stamp.
For many years now I've enjoyed the many compositions of Leroy
Anderson.This web site is a delight for the fans of his music!! The Scottish Festival
Orchestra will be performing,amongst others, his Belle of the Ball (1951) later this
year.Might anyone have some background information on this particular piece,so as we can
put something together for programme notes? Carry on the great work! With Best Wishes to
all Leroy Anderson fans. Aloha! If anyone is vacationing in Honolulu this week, be sure
to check out the Royal Hawaiian Band (www.royalhawaiianband.org) which will feature Leroy
Anderson's music. On Friday , June 16, we will be at the Iolani Palace grounds for our
usual Friday noon concert. Then on Sunday, June 18, we will be at the Honolulu Zoo at 4pm.
On Wed., June 21, there is a repeat performance of the same music at Ward Warehouse
Shopping Center in Honolulu. The program consists of "Blue Tango",
"Syncopated Clock", "Summer Skies", "Horse and Buggy",
"Serenta", "Buglers' Holiday" and "Trumpeter's Lullaby." I'm
the tall haole guy in the percussion section. Come say hello! I can appreciate everything Mr Anderson accomplished in life,
his music, Harvard educated, his military career in WW2. Mr Anderson served in Iceland,
Keflavik AFB in a small CIC detachment. Six years later during the Korean War I was
assigned to the same CIC detachment for one year in Keflavik. It was not pleasant duty but
I had the good fortune to work with and review and expand the very excellent records Mr
Anderson created in the 40's that were very valuable to our country's security during the
Korean war. Mr Anderson was a patriot, a fine musician, a wonderful person and I would
have been proud to have served under Captain Leroy Anderson,USA. He truly deserves a
medal. Sincerely, Charles F. Minett 85-86 67th Ave Forest Hills, NY 11374 USAF 1951/1954
AF12332830 I have played the string bass for over 30 years - and I still
love to play "Sleigh Ride" every year for our Holiday concerts.
As a lifelong fan of LeRoy Anderson's music, I found it a
surprising thrill in our college bookstore some years ago to find a CD with his music. A
short time later, I was able to buy another such CD; I find the music rewarding,
stimulating, and a generous reminder of the lively and also comforting days I experienced
in the 1950s. I strongly affirm a postage stamp commemoration for this composer and
musician of first rank! As the conductor of The Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, I
often program the music of Leroy Anderson for our summer concert series. His music is as
much fun to conduct as it is to listen to.
As an American conductor living in Germany, I´m pleased to be
able to program so many fine compositions by Leroy Anderson.The Hamburg Police Orchestra
is a full-time professional wind ensemble which works closely with the North German Radio
(NDR). We will be presenting Leroy Anderson works in a concert on Friday, May 26, 2000
featuring Jiggs Whigham as soloist. "A Trumpeter´s Lullaby " and a fine new
arrangement by James Barnes "A Leroy Anderson Portrait" are on the program. His
music is as well-known here in Germany as it is in the USA. Sharon and Rolf, Just a reminder that we would be honored to
have you as our guests at our middle school concert on Thurs. May 25 at 7:30p.m. at the
Georgia (VT) Middle School. We will be performing "The Phantom Regiment" and
"The Irish Washerwman" and would be delighted if you would say a few words. Hope
you can make it. Thanks, Randy Wheeler Band Director
Surrounded by medleys and tunes in the 50's while growing up
in a small town, whether on a TV show, on the radio or record, Leroy Anderson's songs were
captivating and unforgettable. Leonard Slatkin's, The Typewriter, brought back the sights
and feelings of those early years. Dare I say Anderson's pieces have an aura of innocence
around them? And who is composing music that's pure fun now!? Music that literally makes
you smile . . . or weep (Forgotten Dreams)? Thanks to Providence for moving in the life of
a man who will ever be remembered for his simple genius. I picked up The Best of Leroy Anderson several days ago. I
then had a seven hour car trip home after dropping my son off at college. The time on the
road absolutely flew by as I listened to the CD again and again. Today, I've had it
playing in my office, and have been amazed at how many fellow workers have stopped to
listen and want to know "where did I get that CD?" His music is so uplifting and
gay (in the old sense of the word). My spirits just soared. What a contribution to
American music he made. I believe he deserves a place of honor beside Kern, Gershwin,
Berlin, and Rogers. Leroy Anderson bridged the gap between "light music"
and the full orchestration of "classical music". His compositional ideas were
simple, fun and entertaining while giving the listener a glimpse at the range of classical
orchestration. His sense of humor and his obvious joy of life came through in his
compositions. I am a graduate of DePaul in Chicago (Music '70). I got to know his music as
a child through my father, and more in depth in my educational career. I miss him.... Leroy is my new favorite musican, ever since I studied him in
my humanities class. I love "Fiddle Faddle" Leroy touched so many people over the course of his life - in
person and over the airwaves. One of those people was my grandfather, Robert Lawson, who
(although exceedingly tone-deaf) was recruited into the Harvard University Band by Leroy
to pull the new 6-foot tall base drum, "Bertha". Granddad loved the band and the
music they played. His experience was a major reason why I joined the Band as well (and
pulled Bertha, of course). Leroy may have started out small by conducting HUB in the
thirties, but he will never be remembered as well as by the generations of Bandies who
have been influenced by his spirit and his music. I wanted to thank the webmaster of the Leroy Anderson site.
You made my job so much easier. I program concerts for the Golden Eagle Community Band,
based out of Mt. Holly, NJ. May 12 & 13 we will present MASTERS OF AMERICAN MUSIC.
Along with the music, I'm writing narration to provide insight into each composer's
contribution to American music. Your site provided me with much needed info in a concise
manner. Not only was it informative, but a pleasure to peruse, as well. Keep up the good
work! I was driving in the city today listening to the classical
station when I caught the end of a piece which involved a typewriter. I thought 'this is
brilliant!' and had to jot down the author so I could try and listen to the whole thing.
Silly me. Not only did he write one of the two most memorable classical pieces from my
youth - the Syncopated Clock (Wendy Carlos' Switch on Bach was the other), but how many
times have I heard Sleigh Ride in my life? After hearing Blue Tango today, you can be
assured I'll pick up an album of his by the end of the week... My childhood memories go back to Leroy's music, the 1950s in
N. Calif., although I never knew his name until recently. Now at age 50, I find myself
listening to those radio stations that play Blue Tango, and relish in their comforting
sounds. Recently this station has been using The Typewriter as a commercial for the
"office of the day" game. This has sparked my memory of another favorite piece
of my youth, and found myself becoming obsessed with finding his music. I also remembered
that my son played Syncopated Clock, and Bugler's Holiday at his band concerts when he
attended Benicia High School in the early 90s. Determined to find a CD, I am pleased to
say that I finally did. We are so enjoying his talented, happy music....what good therapy
Leroy Anderson's music is! So pleased, also, to find this nice website. My son is now
reminiscing about his old band days with his buddies back in Benicia, and how his high
school band instructor must have loved Leroy, as he chose so many of his works. Leroy Anderson's music touches me in ways that no other
composer can. Because of his music, I decided to major in music in college. My brother and
I used to listen to the Decca recordings every day as children. I still have those
somewhat worn records in my collection! As a adult, I still marvel at the freshness,
childlike lack of inhibition, warmth, and richness of musicality that his music contains.
While my brother has moved into more "hip" forms of music, he still retains a
love for Anderson's music. That says it all! If there are any available CDs of the entire
Christmas Carols, please let me know. I have the original LP.
Just dug up a few of the wonderful piano compositions by the
most talented Leroy Anderson. I found your site because I am looking for a book with all
of my Leroy Anderson favorites. I guess that would be everything I have ever heard. Looks
like WBP can help me. Thanks for a great web site. in my opinion, leroy anderson is the greatest amercian
composer, living or dead. I HAVE HANKERING TO HEAR THE tYPEWRITER aGAIN.... aND FINALLY
I TRACKED DOWN A RECORDING ON MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE CALLED: FREDERICK FENNELL CONDUCTS
THE MUSIC OF LEROY ANDERSON. Great to hear it again! What Fun! Then ,to my surprize, more
and more treats to enjoy with 23 selections! Sadly the disc had NO info on the composer so
I warmed up the computor and typed in Leroy Anderson and WOW!!!! I have days of reading
ahead. Thanks to everyone working on this site and maintaining the memory and presence of
Mr.Anderson. Time to go. It was a real pleasure to have Leroy Anderson's son conduct
the Hamden Symphony Orchestra as we played "The Waltzing Cat" at our concert at
Quinnipiac College on Sunday, March 5. It was also an honor to meet his wife, and I'm so
glad they told us about this web site! We violins had to practice our "meows"
over and over, and the drummers did the dogs' barking at the end. What fun! We alos played
"Home Stretch," and everyone could hear the horses racing by (woodblocks). There
was a large audience and everyone especially enjoyed the Anderson pieces. Thanks for this
great opportunity to share with others! [I too have fond memories of playing several Leroy
Anderson pieces in high school band and orchestra.] Roberta Mouheb, concertmaster, Hamden
Symphony. Thank you for this wonderful site about Mr. Anderson. I am in
my 35th and last year as a high school band director and have always loved Anderson's
music. We will do an all Anderson concert tomorrow evening, something I always wanted to
do and never got around to. I have fond memories of hours spent as a child dancing around
my living room to The Syncopated Clock and the Waltzing Cat! Years later, I'm following my
heart to become a Dance Movement Therapist. My search for good music for children sent me
back up to my attic to dig out my old LP of Fennell's recordings of Anderson's music with
the Eastman-Rochester "Pops". I'm thrilled to see info here about CD releases,
but wish this web site had more specific info on how to go about ordering Anderson's CD's.
*** Can anyone offer suggestions? I've had no luck at music stores....*** Thank you for supplying the students of America with this
wonderful web page. It has given me the opportunity to learn more about musicians of the
past and also made my life a little easier. ~Jessica Hello, I hope that someone will be able to help me out. I am
looking for the words to Leroy Anderson's "Syncopated Clock". If anyone has the
words, please email me. Thank you.
It's really fun to read through many of the comments about
Leroy Anderson. As one "guest" testified, the Piano Concerto is particularly
wonderful, and I am at a loss to understand why Mr. Anderson was dissatisfied with its
quality and pulled it from his repertoire. I listen to it often because it is bright,
relaxing, reflective of the optimistic spirit of America, and beautifully written. I had
to search for a recording of it as well, but I believe I finally found one at Amazon.com.
Stuart Goodyear is the pianist. I would like to thank the Anderson family for allowing
this wonderful piece of music to be recorded. My very best wishes for continued accolades
to Mr. Anderson and the joy he has brought to so many over the years. His music is
reminiscent of happy times spent with my parents...I remember attending the Ice Capades as
a little girl and watching a skater couple in blue glide around to "Blue Tango."
He has given all of us so many lovely, joyful memories. Thanks for the site! I think of it as a great honor to have composed such an
excelent selection of songs. My favorite, though, has to be a Trumpeter's Lullaby. There
is a little story to go with it. In fifth grade my band director asked my if I wanted to
play a solo for our spring concert so I said sure. He showed me the piece and I was in
awe. We worked on it confidentially and later told the band about it which was the time we
began to rehaerse as a whole. The day finally came and I was tremendously nervous. After
the first five measures of the song were played I came in. My knees were shaking and my
hands were sweating. But once we got into the piece I was ok. There was only one part that
I was worried about. It was the chromatic scale in the middle of the page. I worked long
and hard on that one part to make that scale become music. It ran off of my valves so
smoothly. I was satisfied. Then it seemed like the song was over. I was hit with the feel
of relief. I had a great time doing it and would like to thank both Leroy and our former
conductor Mr. Vowells for helping me get through this glorious piece. As of now I am in
the eight grade and going on to the O'Fallon Marching Panthers. Thanks again. We think Leroy Anderson was a talented and good musician, and
that he was very clever, especially in Sleigh Ride. We like how he used the sounds of
horses hooves and the whip crack, and the trumpet for the horse's neigh. Many of the musicians in our class hope to become great
musicians and follow in Mr. Anderson's footsteps. We hope he wins the Medal of Freedom,
and gets a postage stamp to honor him. I wish to share the following message which I have just sent
to President Clinton: "I am writing to express my support for Senator Joe Lieberman's
proposal of composer Leroy Anderson for a posthumous Medal of Freedom. Anderson's many
well-known compositions (the most famous being Sleigh Ride) are a wonderful lyrical
reflection of the optimism and wit of the American people. As the son of Swedish
immigrants (like me), he represents one of the best aspects of America, namely her
acceptance and encouragement of the talents of people from many different nations and
cultures. Anderson is as American as Carl Sandburg or Ann-Margret (Olson), and as
representative of the American experience in music as Norman Rockwell is in art. He richly
deserves this great recognition." I send my best wishes and regards to Mrs. Anderson
and her family, and hope that this award will soon be forthcoming.
I thoroughly enjoy Leroy Anderson's "The Blue
Tango." I'm 39-years-old and I can say that his music is so clear, crisp, pure and
clean. Blue Tango reminds me of the decade that I wish I was born into. I'm glad to be
born in l960, but the l950's had an innocence about it and a naievity that is long gone in
this era. I am a music lover and "The Blue Tango" is reminiscent of when
families were much more stable, loving and cohesive. We like listening to Leroy Anderson's music and we appreciated
the website. We think his music has probably inspired people all over. We enjoyed listening to the song "Sleigh Ride" with
our music teacher, Mrs. Niemi. Leroy Anderson... what a master of music. I have listened to
his music since I was a teenager in the 50's, at the time of BLUE TANGO. I recently bought
a 2-CD set of Leroy Anderson's music, conducted by him - on MCA, formerly Decca. My
favourite composition is a piece called SARABAND: it is so lively, so bright, so typical
of the man. My fondest wish would be that his CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL and SUITES OF CHRISTMAS
CAROLS could be released on CD. They are among my favourites... on LP that is. Leroy
Anderson, you wrote music for the heart. What a master he was....so good to see his works on the net.. I am an American bassist in the Malaysian Philharmonic
Orchestra. We just finished our first (of three) performance of a Gala concert consisting
of (the first half) Strauss pieces and (the second half) of Leroy Anderson. Even though I
am relatively young, I grew up listening to Leroy Anderson music. This is the first time
that I have been able to such a large amount of his music in one concert. (Our music
director, Kees Bakels LOVES his music!) It was interesting to hear the audience quietly
enjoy the first half of the concert, and respond much more enthusiastically to the second
half. I really don't know how many folks in the country of Malaysia are familiar with the
music of Leroy Anderson, but tonight's show told me how much they enjoy his music. It was
terrific to have a world class professional orchestra enjoy squeaking the sides of their
stringed instruments, and to have the oboe give an "a" to the solo
typewriter...and to throw the audience off in the waltz of the "The Classical Music
Box." I think everybody who attended the concert really enjoyed themselves. I also
know the orchestra and did! I remember Leroy Anderson's music on an off since I was
little, although I have only recently found out the name of the composer and the titles of
the pieces of music. I play in a Concert Band and we have done Blue Tango and Sleigh Ride
(great) which has been a big success at our last 2 Christmas concerts. It's nice to
finally find out more about the composer of this brilliant music. I remember Leroy Anderson's music on an off since I was little
- but only recently found out the composers name and the titles of the pieces. I play the
flute in a Concert Band - we have played Blue Tango (great) and Sleigh Ride has been a big
success at our last Christmas Concerts. Thank you for your site. It is nice to finally be
able to find out about the composer of these great pieces. I grew up in Missouri. I think I remember Bugler's Holiday
being played as the theme for a TV program in the 50's. If you remember this, I would love
to know the program. Thanks. Excellent site! After hearing the Leroy Anderson Tribute by
his son on NPR, There is a rare song that I would like to obtain (recording and/or sheet
music). I don't know the title but it had 76 Trombones (from "The Music Man")
and the Star Spangled Banner mixed togehter. It was really great and I cant seem to find
it... even on this site! I believe it was a tribute to Arthur Fiedler (Boston Pops). If
you can help please email. Thank you! |