A great big thank you to the Anderson family for allowing Leonard Slatkin and the BBC Concert Orchestra access to "Whistling Kettle." I cannot for the life of me understand why such an incredible vignette was withdrawn by the composer. Charming, delightful, yet at the same time poignant, this marvelous composition is less than two minutes long yet totally unforgettable. It's almost Vivaldi-esque in it's purity, but unmistakably Anderson. I urge everyone to listen to it on the newly released CD "Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 2" on the Naxis label. I can only hope that some time in the near future it is allowed to be published.
DM
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 5, 2008
Hello,
We played all his music in high school as music students and now we are teaching that wonderful Repertoire to our children. Long Live Leroy Anderson in our hearts.
Jessica Stanco
Class of 83 Watertown High
Watertown Connecticut
Now Broken Arrow Oklahoma
May 4, 2008
Every public school band I was in played some variation of Sleigh Ride. It was the favorite of students and parents at many Christmas Concerts. But it wasn't until my own children began playing the piece that I learned more about Leroy Anderson. I was proud to learn he was an American composer, and surprised by all of the tunes I recognize on your website. Thank you.
BG
Oklahoma
April 26, 2008
Hi,
I love the site. Just wanted to relate an experience I had the other
day. I've been an Anderson fan for a long, long time. I was driving down
the road and Nat King Cole came on the radio singing a song that sounded
vaguely familiar. As I paid attention, I recognized the lovely
Serenata. Never knew it had words. I was totally blown away by it. I've
tracked it down and will be able to listen to it as soon as my CD arrives.
As for your fabulous site, I'm ordering a couple of items from there,
too. I was unaware there were words to a number of Mr. Anderson's pieces
such as Blue Tango and Belle of the Ball. I've printed them off and will
now sing along with them.
Thanks for continuing to keep this site going. It's now a favorite.
Mary L. Oliver,
Norwich, New York
April 13, 2008
Growing up with the radio in the early 50s does make speak the facts for themselves.
It was the times of the good music on the radio and the hits by Leroy Anderson were frequently played in Holland and they have been a guide for my further musical development, but I NEVER forgot about Leroy's delightful creations.
Until the half 60s came up. The half 60s were to be the death-blow for the good light concert music and for the worldwide Scottish Dance Music as well.
Leroy Anderson is one of the very few, never having ended up in oblivion!
FS
Holland
April 9, 2008
When I was quite small (3 or 4 years old...this was 46 or 47 years
ago) I remember my mother sitting and listening to Leroy Anderson
music from a record of his music that she owned. She loved Leroy
Anderson's music. Then when I was in the 7th grade, and when I played
in the Junior High School band (saxophone) we played the Phantom
Regiment in one of our concerts. Thirty seven years later I will be
playing (April 6, 2008) in my community band's spring concert the same
piece of music along with a lot of other of his other pieces in a
concert dedicated to Leroy Anderson on his 100th birthday. I wish my
mother was still alive because I think she would really enjoy hearing
these songs again and I know that I would really enjoy playing them
for her. When I do play them now I think back to when I was in the
7th grade and I think of my mother.
Thank you.
Jeff Elliott
Pleasanton, California
April 5, 2008
Hello!
Congratulations on the centennial!
I love Leroy Anderson's music very much.
It transcends time and place.
Nearly 10 years ago, I bought a CD by Utah Symphony Orchestra conducted by
Maurice Abravanel.
My most favorites among favorites are Bell of the Ball, Forgotten Dreams,
Trumpetter's Lullaby and.... oh, so many more!
I am certain his music will be around us in the years to come!
Thank you, Mr Anderson!
Yasuko Yokoyama
Kure, Hiroshima, Japan
March 13, 2008
I intend to use one of the CD sets with a class I teach in Business Education for the purpose of establishing rhythm while keyboarding (typing). I have a copy of Mr. Anderson's "The Typewriter" which I have used with students, and I find the effect nothing short of astonishing. "Hardened" teens seem to brighten up, smile and enjoy their tasks. The entire tone of the class improved and that particular piece is now a part of our regular typing practice. I'm sure that these students would enjoy many more of Mr. Anderson's works.
Daniel Loewen
Alberta,Canada
March 3, 2008
Thank you for this website! What a wonderful way to keep music lovers
aware of the great contributions Mr. Anderson made to enriching our
lives through his music which invariably lifts the spirits!
Gene Dunnam
March 2, 2008
I am a high school band director and I could not imagine a world without Leroy Anderson's works. Every year when I plan the concert band literature, Anderson is among the first composers I consider. In fact this year we have programed two of his pieces, "Christmas Festival" and "The Irish Washerwoman." My thanks for this website and all of your efforts.
Tim Karth
Band Director
Streator High School
Streator, IL
February 29, 2008
In my music library the Leroy Anderson orchestra is one of my prize
CD's. His "Trumpeter's Lullaby" has one of the sweetest trumpet solos
that it has ever been my pleasure to listen to. I recall the first time I
heard that Leroy Anderson classic. I was in radio broadcasting in Rocky Mount,
N.C. in 1954 and played it on the air using a 45 RPM Decca record. When
listening to Leroy Anderson's "Sandpaper Ballet", you cannot resist the urge
to pat your foot. All of us are familiar with the phrase "as American as
apple pie." I prefer "as American as Leroy Anderson's music." How
tragic today's generation is in too big a hurry going nowhere to stop and
enjoy the relaxing music of Leroy Anderson.
William A. Sellers, Jr.
Norfolk Southern Railway ( Ret. )
Gainesville, Ga.
February 25, 2008
Hello,
I did not know a stitch about Leroy Anderson…………….but as it turns out I knew more than I ever thought about his music…I went to the "That's So Retro" show Warner Theater Erie Pa. 2/16/08
How nice to see a father so honored by his son. Kurt did a great job. The show was great.I have a new found respect for Leroy and his body of work.
Best regards,
Daniel J. DeCoursey
Network Administrator
Erie County Courthouse
February 20, 2008
Hello all Leroy Anderson fans!
During this year, 2008, there will be a lot of concerts and meetings to remember Leroy Anderson here in Kristianstad. I and my will of course take part in these events. We also have visited the small village outside Kristianstad, where his father once lived. I hope it will be possible to buy the videos of Leroy Anderson and his life we can see here on this web page at the events here in Kristianstad this year!
Best regards,
Bertil Olsson,
Kristianstad, Sweden
February 25, 2008
Dear Anderson Family,
I found two videos on the internet in which the wonderful and masterly Cameron Carpenter plays Leroy Anderson's "Forgotten Dreams" and "Bugler`s Holiday" on the organ. The music, and in particular, the interpretation, touched me very much. Next I bought the CD "Leroy Anderson - Orchestral Favourites - Richard Hayman and his Orchestra". I am really like these lovely compositions by Leroy Anderson! It is so wonderful that I can hear them every day now.
With gratitude and best wishes,
Irene Möller
Berlin, Germany
February 9, 2008
Just heard the Brevard Symphony Orchestra performance of the 100 years
of Leroy Anderson. A very delightful concert. Mr Anderson is probably
the most recognized composer in short American music.
Eric Smitt
February 2, 2008
We are going to a concert by the Brevard Symphony, in Feb 2008,
dedicated to Leroy Anderson and his music. I am sure we will enjoy
it very much. His music brings back a lot of memories.
Emilio J. Power
January 29, 2008
I received the DVD and CD I ordered yesterday. What a pair of disks. Fantastic.
The DVD is so great I watched it twice. Very educational. I have been a lover of his music for years.
I had a CD in the early 90's and we had a friends son going into training to be an intelligence
officer. So I made him a cassette tape of the CD to take to training. He loved the music very much.
Again thank you for the disks they are my treasures.
Love,
Bill and Marge
January 21, 2008
At long last the music of Leroy Anderson will be presented to the Swedish people during a huge presentation in Kristianstad this spring and summer. Many people haven't heard of him. Please keep us infomed of the events.
Curtis
January 20, 2008
Many years ago I decided to go to USA in 2008 and listen to a Centennial Concert would there be any (I was not sure!). After having seen this home page in May, 2007, I decided to visit Birmingham, AL, on 11th January 2008 and hear the All-Anderson concert there.
And so I did. For an old fan (since 1956) of Leroy Anderson's music conductor Christopher Confessore, piano soloist Jeffrey Biegel and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra really made that concert a night to remember.
I hope many people during this year and in the future will have the possibility to listen to Leroy Anderson's music.
Erik Fagerstrom
Kungsor, Sweden
January 20, 2008
Wow - thank you for this wonderful website. I thought
I didn't know Leroy Anderson's music - until I started
clicking your excerpts and could hear them! What a
wonderful body of work.
Thanks again for a website that keeps this music alive.
PJ
January 16, 2008
I would be slightly awed in his presence, but how
I would have liked to sit with him and talk. Above
all to thank him for his music, so intensely loved
by so many.
Forrest E. Boyd
Clermont, Florida
January 4, 2008
