Guest Book - 1999

Thanks to those who have submitted entries to the Guestbook page.
We appreciate hearing from people who enjoy Leroy Anderson's music.

You are invited to send your comments for us to include in the Guestbook.
Send your comments to: info[at]woodburymusic[dot]com. Thank you.

- The Anderson Family

I've been looking for a midi recording of "Sleigh Ride" Forever. My girlfriend loves this peice. I Just Finished a concert where we played "A Christmas Festival.

Shane Micheal Olson
Maple Ridge, Canada
Sunday, December 26, 1999 at 17:37:27 (EST)

My dad Maynard, who passed away in June 1998, was a Harvard College classmate of Mr Anderson, class of 1929. They grew up together and attended Cambridge Latin School as classmates. My dad had fond memories of Mr Anderson and loved his music.

Ralph Allard
Brockton, MA USA
Saturday, December 25, 1999 at 20:17:22 (EST)

I'd like the life and music of Leroy Anderson depicted in a movie, either in the theatre, video or television. I have been a great fan of Leroy Anderson for about 40 years.

Michael Newfeld
Toronto, On CANADA
Saturday, December 25, 1999 at 00:40:14 (EST)

I'd like to see a movie made about the life and music of Leroy Anderson, either in the theatre, video or on television. He has been one of my favourites of music.

Michael Newfeld
Toronto, On CANADAv Saturday, December 25, 1999 at 00:10:25 (EST)

I'm doing my composer report for a 4th grade music project. This was very helpful. Thank you.

Barbie Cyr
Baltimore, MD USA
Monday, December 20, 1999 at 14:34:09 (EST)

I am trying to find a recording of Sleigh Ride.

Keyone' Swain
Baltimore, MD USA
Sunday, December 19, 1999 at 23:56:14 (EST)

I am trying to track down any CD of Leroy Anderson's work for my sister. I would appreciate an address or phone number for a place where his recordings may be purchased. An excellent site...!

Tim Miner
Sudbury, ON Canada
Sunday, December 19, 1999 at 09:00:20 (EST)

I only recently discovered that so many songs that I remember from my youth (sleigh ride, blue tango, syncopated clock) were all composed by Leroy Anderson. I would love to know where I can purchase a cd of Christmas songs composed by this great artist (and any other cds available). At the age of 50, I have become a huge fan and look forward to sharing Mr. Andersons music with friends and family.

paul morelli
clinton, ct USA
Sunday, December 12, 1999 at 11:37:28 (EST)

My children, aged 7 and 11 are constantly singing the tune to the latest GAP Clothing tv-advert over here. They think it is a new tune. Ha! But which orchestra is playing Sleigh Ride on the ad?

Andrew Hewkin
Shropshire, UK
Sunday, December 12, 1999 at 07:49:15 (EST)

We honor Mr. Anderson's music every year with a great performance of A Christmas Festival. We have also performed some of his other works. A Great Man!!

Larry J. VanMersbergen
Aurora, IL USA
Friday, December 10, 1999 at 13:48:58 (EST)

I am a Canadian citizen! I love Leory Anderson more than ever and his music fascinates me very much! Some of my favorite pieces are CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OVERTURE, the piece I LOVE the best of a fantasia of well-known Christmas carols and songs that is a popular favorite played of every community, school and major orchestras that is an appropriate way to celebrate Christmas that is a holiday to be joyful and festive! This composition is an appropriate way to remember Leory Andereson who is remembered as a great composer! I also like his THE TYPEWRITER, BLUE TANGO and many other of his fine compsotions. Along with Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Chopin, Dvorak, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Donuizetti, Berlioz, Bizet, Lehar, Johann Strauss Junior, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Bruckner, Rimsky-Korsakov, Debussy, Gershwin, Holst, Deius, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Prokofiev, Shosatkovich and Hindemith which are some of my many favorite composers, Leory Anderson joins the list because he did a great job in promoting American music that was played with the Boston Pops especially under the years of the legendary Arthur Fielder, one of my favorite conductors. Leroy Anderson deserves my respect!

David Cohen
Vancouver, BC Canada
Sunday, December 05, 1999 at 23:36:42 (EST)

As a sixteen-year-old in Montreal during 1952, I was crazy enough about "BLUE TANGO" that I had seven copies of the 78rpm record so it would repeat over and over before needing to be re-stacked. Many decades have passed and I still thrill to his music. We acknowledge his birthday and "yartzheit" [anniversary of his passing] along with the dates of my favorite composers..Beethoven; Rimsky-Korsakov; Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, by playing their music on those dates. GREATNESS RULES!!!

Daniel J. Gaisin
Burlington, ON CANADA
Sunday, December 05, 1999 at 14:39:17 (EST)

Have always loved Leroy Anderson's music, from the age of four when I was taking ballet lessons. My teacher Miss Lillian Mae Marsh used a great deal of his music.

Morgan Cayer
Nepean, Ontario Canada
Thursday, December 02, 1999 at 19:11:58 (EST)

Leroy Anderson was a fantastic composer of great American music. His works such as "Sleigh Ride", "Trumpeter's Lullaby" (my favorite), and "The Blue Tango" all possess a charming and witty musical color. His ablilty to write different kinds of music such as his waltzes, his "Irish Suite", and his many other catchy tunes, make him a true American musical symbol. We are performing Sleigh Ride in our High School Christmas Concert, It'll be a great note to end on!

J. Stover
ME USA
Monday, November 29, 1999 at 21:21:14 (EST)

I am a violist and orchestra director in Western PA. We are performing Sleigh Ride next week. Thanks for the program notes. We hope to play Plink Plank Plunk in the spring. Well done site.

MJS
USA
Monday, November 29, 1999 at 20:31:24 (EST)

This is a very nice page and it has a lot of useful information. I play trumpet in my schools Wind Ensamble (Honors Band), and we are playing Sleigh Ride in our upcoming winter concert. It is a fun piece to play because it is very lively and energetic.

Brian
Coventry, CT USA
Monday, November 29, 1999 at 15:06:30 (EST)

I was just wondering where I might be able to find a copy of the CD or cassette of Christmas Carols by Leroy Anderson. My mother had the original album, which was put out by Decca records. Unfortunately the Decca record company no longer exists and we are left wondering where we can get a copy of this on CD or cassette. This was a wonderful album and it helps my Mom and her sister and brother to remember what Christmas was like when they were little. If you could help us out we would greatly appreciate it. Thank You! Sarah

Sarah
Manahawkin, NJ USA
Friday, November 26, 1999 at 18:02:26 (EST)

The christmas season is here and you wouldn't believe how happy I was when the _original_ concert band version of "Sleigh Ride" was put infront of us! I'm glad to be playing it.

D. Eastmond
USA
Sunday, November 21, 1999 at 01:18:24 (EST)

Very Nice

Heather Bratko
Hubbardston, MA USA
Friday, November 19, 1999 at 20:54:56 (EST)

What a wonderful master pieces created by Leroy Anderson. I knew him for only 5 years. His music got into my life accidently when I come accross the cute title of the CD call "Typewriter" at the classical section and I tried it. This caused me falling in love deeply in his music and never get out. Horray to Mr. Anderson

Chew, Timmy
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Malaysia
Wednesday, November 17, 1999 at 05:31:31 (EST)

Is Carl Viegland, author of "AN APPRECIATION", son of Hans Viegland of Buffalo, NY?

Carolyn Erling
Atlanta, GA USA
Tuesday, November 16, 1999 at 12:04:25 (EST)

This is a really good research cite. Thanks!!

Kristen Erekson
LaGrange, IL USA
Monday, November 15, 1999 at 18:46:27 (EST)

Leroy Anderson's music is the first music I can remember hearing as a child. I was born in Israel and every day at noon "The Typewriter" would open the mid day news edition on the radio. This music is a life inspiration. At the age of 35 I am returning to piano and music studies. Thank you Leroy.

Gilaad A. Klein
Brooklyn, NY USA
Sunday, November 14, 1999 at 01:00:56 (EST)

A great site! I love Leroy Anderson music! Keep up the good work!

Andrew Zizolfo
Valley Stream, NY USA
Friday, October 15, 1999 at 22:40:01 (EDT)

I have loved his music since I was a child. His songs have great hummability.

Ben Harriman, MD
Largo, Fl USA
Friday, October 08, 1999 at 18:16:25 (EDT)

As a child of the 50's, I heard somethig magical in his recordings, and still do.

Nick Real
boston, ma USA
Wednesday, October 06, 1999 at 15:06:46 (EDT)

Thanks I do believe I have played all ? whilst a serving member of HM Royal Marines Band, Del Segno,

Bernard(Maxie)
New Zealand
Saturday, October 02, 1999 at 04:03:21 (EDT)

Will somebody tell the USPS to get on the ball with that postage stamp?? It's about time... Love the work, love the site, give us more... caught part of the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra on public radio a week or so ago and was delighted. Would like to track down a recording.

Howard Fielding
Southbury, CT USA
Friday, October 01, 1999 at 00:21:13 (EDT)

Aloha!! Just tried to order "Lullaby of the Drum" from Warner Bros. and they said it was "out of print". Have any band directors been able to locate this piece? We perform his music all the time in the Royal Hawaiian Band but I have never heard this rare piece. Can anyone help? Nice to see so many wonderful comments here in the guestbook!

Bill Wiley
Honolulu, HI USA
Monday, September 27, 1999 at 18:00:19 (EDT)

I'm so glad I found this site! I'm preparing lessons to teach his wonderful music to my 1st graders! I first remember hearing his music when I was little and have loved it ever since. Thank you for sharing this info with us.

Denise Perry
Linthicum, Md USA
Sunday, September 26, 1999 at 19:39:35 (EDT)

I love Leroy Anderson. I have not seen in your discography the Decca phase4 edition. Is not there in CD? Thank you Giuseppe Gobbetti

Giuseppe Gobbetti
milano, Italy
Friday, September 24, 1999 at 09:42:08 (EDT)

Famaliar with Leroy Anderson since 1960's early. My father introduce me to his music, father was musician (as hobby), made and played violins, cellos, vioas, etc. Classical/Big Band influenced also played flute, piccolo, trumpet. Always enjoyed tight, crisp edged dynamics that Mr. Anderson has given. Looking forward in getting his CD. Mr. Anderson was that rare musician that can say musically in seconds that others take minutes and doesn't redunt or overdraw the music passage. Not easily emulated.

Thomas Elliott
McKee City , NJ USA
Thursday, September 23, 1999 at 23:50:17 (EDT)

This is a wonderful site. I was searching for information about Leroy Anderson who will be a composer of the month in my classroom. The information contained here will be a wonderful addition to our study of great composers. My students have already enjoyed movement exercises to several of his pieces. Thanks!

Karen Drescher
Muskego, WI USA
Friday, September 10, 1999 at 08:15:25 (EDT)

I first heard about Leroy Anderson when I played an easy version of "Trumpeter' Lullaby" for a Solo Festival in fifth grade. Ever since then, I've loved all his works.

David
Spencerport, NY USA
Monday, September 06, 1999 at 10:25:16 (EDT)

Aha! Finally I find some cool info about Leroy Anderson. I see lots of folks here have signed the guestbook and mentioned his mainstay "fun" works. But do you all know about his one rather serious/comprehensive orchestral work? I managed to get my hands on a World Premiere Recording of "Concierto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra", which he released briefly in the mid-50's and withdrew soon thereafter (dissatisfied as to its quality). Well guess what? It's absolutely wonderful -- I play it all the time as background music as I work, as I drive, and even as I recline in my dark living room after a truly grueling workday. If you can manage to find a copy, please grab it and give this fine piece a listen. It has to grow on you, by the way, so don't go with your first impression. Listen to it a few times; I guarantee, it'll grow into a fond addiction. The intricate piano-work and pleasant musical patterns will prove quite enjoyable -- I guarantee it!

William Padilla
North Hollywood, CA USA
Sunday, September 05, 1999 at 08:23:26 (EDT)

Ta, thanks for the information, really helpful

Master Frog
somewhere, Austria
Sunday, August 29, 1999 at 22:28:12 (EDT)

It is very nice to see a site dedicated to Mr. Anderson. His music, A Trumpetter's Lullaby has become a standard trumpet solo in wind/concert band repetoires. It also happens to be my favourite. Blue Tango is one that I have reccently discovered, which reminds me so much of Lullaby, (maybe it's the chord-progressions). I am a young musician and inspiring composer. I play Clarinet in a local community concert band. I am proud to consider Leroy Anderson as one of my musical inspirations.

D.E
ON Canada
Friday, August 27, 1999 at 02:36:40 (EDT)

big fan. no posthumus honor too great. can he be made Pope retroactively? keep me posted, please, on all memorial developments.

Alan Farnham
New York, NY USA
Monday, August 23, 1999 at 11:03:57 (EDT)

I grew up in the Philadelphia, PA, area in the 1960's and while I didn't realize it, I was "exposed" to LA's music via the local TV of that era. "The Syncopated Clock" was the theme for "The Early Show" on our CBS affiliate. "Bugler's Holiday" was the theme for a live morning kids program hosted by "Wee Willie Web(b)er" on the ABC affilate, I think. Much later, in between HS & college (summer of 1970), I met at work a classical music enthusiast. It was interesting that he had heard LA's music but had never heard OF him. I happily shared my LA LPs with him.

Bruce Rubin
Pittsford, NY USA
Wednesday, August 18, 1999 at 16:40:40 (EDT)

For me, Amdrson's music was the best stepping stone to classical music I ever encountered and I never tire of it.

Arch Flickinger
Arlington, VA USA
Tuesday, August 17, 1999 at 13:51:03 (EDT)

Ich habe mich sehr gefreut eine Homepage von Leroy Anderson zu finden. Ich habe schone viele Werke von ihm mit meinen Orchestern (Band und Akkordeon-Orchestra) aufgef�hrt. Ich suche noch die Original-Partituren der St�cke Jazz-Pizzicato und Jazz-Legato; vielleicht kann mir jemand helfen???

Rainer Lehmann
Konstanz, Germany
Tuesday, August 17, 1999 at 12:50:36 (EDT)

I write notes for both the Queens Symphonic Band and the Band of Long Island, and it's amazingly hard to find information on Leroy Anderson; the standard references, quite wrongly, pass right over him. Thanks for a very helpful site!

Ilene Klinghoffer
New York, NY USA
Tuesday, August 17, 1999 at 09:56:06 (EDT)

I've always enjoyed Leroy Anderson music, and in my collection of player piano rolls I have two rolls, Sleigh Ride, put out by QRS, and Fiddle Faddle put out by Duo-Art.I'd love to know if any other pieces by Leroy Anderson have been recorded on piano roll, especially Duo-Art. Thanks

Mary Hamill
Litchfield, CT USA
Friday, August 06, 1999 at 10:51:09 (EDT)

Why is Leroy Anderson so underappreciated as composer or conductor? I subscribed to the Time-Life Instrumental series of recordings, and the only Anderson works were found on the Arthur Fiedler set. They should have been on their own. I knew his work when I was a kid. I suppose "The Typewriter" was the first tone poem I learned. (My mother had a recording from when she was younger; we used to listen to popular music on WPAT and WQXR in New York.) Last week the Woburn (Massachusetts) City Band played some of his works. There was an implication that he was connected to Woburn in particular, or maybe I misheard his general connection to greater Boston.

David Chesler
Woburn, MA USA
Wednesday, August 04, 1999 at 11:25:34 (EDT)

I heard the tunes of Leroy Anderson in my early years, when I was young german boy after the World War II. The German radio stations used to play all the American popular music, which was ignored by the Nazis. Andersons tunes were on air nearly daily. There was a program named "Mit Musik geht alles besser", especially made for housewifes doing her homework, every morning from 9 to 11. "Typewriter", "Blue Tango", "Bugler's Holiday" and all the other tunes reached my ears eagerly hearing everything new. Now I'm a musician too and still love these wonderful pieces, each of them a unique event. Thank you, Amarica! Reinmar Wipper N�rtingen Germany

Reinmar Wipper
N�rtingen, BW GermanyUSA
Sunday, July 25, 1999 at 17:35:23 (EDT)

I am the program director for a public radio station in Pittsburg Kansas and we are going to be airing a special on Leroy Anderson. We are thrilled to be sharing his music with our listeners. Sincerely, Bobbie Barajas

Bobbie Barajas
Pittsburg, KS USA
Thursday, July 22, 1999 at 20:01:25 (EDT)

I am the program director for a public radio station in Pittsburg Kansas and we are going to be airing a special on Leroy Anderson. We are thrilled to be sharing his music with our listener. Sincerely, Bobbie Barajas

Bobbie Barajas
Pittsburg, KS USA
Thursday, July 22, 1999 at 20:00:50 (EDT)

For the past 75 years our local city band, Oconomowoc American Legion Band has always played some selections throughout our 10 concert summer series. This year is no exception! I am the assistant conductor and mychosen theme concert this year is a salute to Leroy Anderson. This concert also features the local nursing home bringing 5 patooin boats and 3 buses of their residents to this concert on July 28th, 1999. This is there big summer outing and I thought they would truely enjoy his music and it would bring back memories for them. We are even planning to included Santa Claus to the evening during the playing of Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival!! It should be a super night of fun, if it doesn't rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gail Schroeder
Watertown, wi USA
Monday, July 19, 1999 at 12:37:57 (EDT)

Leroy Anderson's music was standard for the High School band where my wife to be and I played the french horn together. Thanks for the web page.

David Lias
Danbury, CT USA
Wednesday, July 07, 1999 at 09:21:33 (EDT)

I love Leroy Anderson's music. Where can I get a CD collection of his work?

John Driskill
Alvin, Tx USA
Sunday, July 04, 1999 at 12:56:52 (EDT)

Does anyone know if Leroy Anderson's guest appearance on the Boston Pops in 1971(?)1972(?) is available on video cassette?

Dan McGeehan
USA
Thursday, June 24, 1999 at 11:19:45 (EDT)

At Kingsborough Community College we're about to begin the Silver Anniversary Season of our summer concert series with concert band "Music Under The Stars", and L.A. is generously programmed, including "Irish Suite" "serenata" and "Belle". I'm researching "Typewriter" for my appearance as typist on 7/10, as part of our "Hooray for Hollywood" program, as a salute to the screenwriters. I'll perform on my grandpa's Royal Silent (!) Deluxe portable, which peaked in popularity during the decade following the premiere of L.A.'s magical monument to the mechanical marvel. During the fabulous 50s the office machine industry owed a huge debt to the comedic composer from Connecticut!! ecs

Ed Schweibacher, music librarian
Broohklyn, NY USA
Thursday, June 24, 1999 at 08:59:16 (EDT)

I have just recently become a fan of Leroy Anderon's Piano Concerto in C Major. I listen to it and am able to laugh and cry at the same time. My dream is to one day be able to play this beautiful music with the same passion which Anderson wrote with. It is wonderful to see music so alive in the world!!

Lauren
Louisville, KY USA
Tuesday, June 22, 1999 at 17:39:50 (EDT)

Just found the note for this web-site in the booklet of "Sleigh Ride" CD. I had the opportunity to see the Malmoe Symphony Orchestra here in southern Sweden, perform a complete concert of Leroy Anderson music a few years ago. Then I found a 1957 LP by Royal Farnsworth Symphony Pops Orchestra, and last year this excellent CD in Chicago. I sure will search for more... Is there any Leroy Andersson radio shows in MP3 format?

Robert Axelsson
Sweden
Tuesday, June 22, 1999 at 15:44:35 (EDT)

Greetings from Northern Europe. Nice to see that there are so many Leroy Anderson music lovers. I bought my first Leroy Anderson LP by age of 16. Ever since I have spent numerous of brilliant moments by listening his music. It's perfect and that`s all I can say. You all could be my pals.

Arvo Hamalainen
Helsinki, FINLAND
Friday, June 18, 1999 at 08:41:43 (EDT)

We played a good number of Leroy Anderson light orchestral pieces when I was Principal Percussionist for the county orchestra, I thought they were enchanting, especially the percussion features (Sandpaper Ballet, Syncopated Clock, Typewriter Song etc.) This site is really great, and reflects the true genius that was Leroy Anderson. Stay happy!

John Hawksley
Boeblingen, BW Germany
Sunday, June 06, 1999 at 16:12:51 (EDT)

Hello. I am a pianist and got to play a piano arrangement of Fiddle Faddle last year at my yearly recital. Later on that year I had they pleasure of hearing the Mid Texas Symphony perform Fiddle Faddle and loved it! Anderson was truly a great American composer and his pieces are fun to listen to and play. Cool site, and a nice tribute to the man behind it all!

Glenn Stroh
Marion, TX USA
Sunday, May 09, 1999 at 20:46:52 (EDT)

I never knew what Leyroy Anderson had written beside Sleigh Ride. Recently, I was sent a CD of his works and I was delighted. When I heard the Syncopated Clock I was reminded of WCBS telivision in New York using it as the theme of their Late Show.

Michael Nazzaro
Mt. Bethel, PA USA
Saturday, May 08, 1999 at 22:14:04 (EDT)

I caught "Fiddle Faddle" on some obscure college radio station and am now hooked on Leroy Anderson. It pays to stray outside one's normal musical boundaries From time to time.

Alan Aug
N. Babylon, NY USA
Saturday, May 01, 1999 at 19:27:50 (EDT)

I was part of AOSFB and fell in love with playing Anderson's Belle of The Ball ... it was in my friends' and mine head for the whole 3 weeks we were down there! Thank you for making those years so memorable...

Katie
Kent, OH USA
Wednesday, April 14, 1999 at 23:08:33 (EDT)

My family always listened to the Boston Pops concerts that were broadcast on KFAC in Los Angeles on Sundays. I grew up listening to Leroy Anderson's music. Last Sunday, I put on a tape of Fiedler and The Pops playing Anderson's Greatest Hits...nice and loud. My children loved the music, as did my wife. I was overcome by nostalgia, and with love for this great music. Thank you for this web site, so easy to find and so nicely laid out.

Bob Powers
Riverside, CA USA
Wednesday, April 14, 1999 at 01:02:25 (EDT)

By obtaining this new CD I have found the 'sounds' of my youth again. Leroy Anderson was in the family I grew up in in someway always around. I am now 50 years old en when I am listening to his wonderful music I am really back 'home' again. It represents to me the sound of 'quality', 'values' and 'decorum'. It was certainly another time and in a lot of ways I wished we were back there again. What I miss most in this time is the lack of respect I sense these days. Mr. Leroy Anderson and his orchestra gave me back a little bit of the feeling of this era. I am grateful for that! Peter Muller.

Peter Muller
Amsterdam, NL Netherlands
Monday, March 29, 1999 at 17:49:51 (EST)

The site is great, but I came to it because I am looking for Realaudio clips for my students. Yours do not seem to be working. All I get is gibberish on the screen when I select a title.

David Corp
Hamburg, NY USA
Wednesday, March 24, 1999 at 11:27:56 (EST)

My wife recently received a CD of Leroy Anderson's songs from the Musical Heritage Society. While many of the songs were familiar to us, for the first time we can credit them all to Leroy Anderson! And as a long time Jerry Lewis fan, it's great to be able to know who wrote the "Typewriter Song." Leroy Anderson deserves to be continually honored for his great music and significant contribution of a major piece of Americana.

Elliot Becker
San Diego, CA USA
Wednesday, March 03, 1999 at 13:49:54 (EST)

I discovered Leroy Anderson's music on a St. Louis station, KFUO. So beautiful !!!! I enjoy a wide range of music and his is timeless. Cool site!

Gary Shedron
Arnold , MO USA
Sunday, February 21, 1999 at 07:12:07 (EST)

Hi, my name is Bert, and I really like Leroy Anderosn, his music is thrilling and inventive. I'm 15 and we played Sleigh Ride and The Phantom Regiment in school, and I was just looking around on the internet and I found this site. I think its really cool, and I love the Phantom Regiment. In fact it is my favorite song. I hope you keep this page up. Thanks a lot.

Bert
Topsfield, MA USA
Friday, February 19, 1999 at 21:41:11 (EST)

It thrills me to no end to see so many Leroy Anderson fans! I fell in love with his music as a kid, never knowing that all these wonderful tunes I enjoyed were written by the same man. By the time I reached high school, I set out to find who wrote "Sleigh Ride." After a great deal of searching, I discovered the name Leroy Anderson, and soon after that I purchased the Boston Pops' "Leroy Anderson's Greatest Hits" album. I was floored to find out that all these marvelous tunes were his. As a true fanatic, I spent many a day tracking down all the albums I could find. Guiltily, I admit I have been known to cajole musician friends to include his work in their concerts (including Chicago's Ravinia Festival a couple of years ago). Lucky for me, one day long ago, I wrote to Mr. Anderson to tell him of my enthusiasm. He replied with a very charming letter. This turned out to be just four months before his death. He was truly an American original and I am so glad his music lives on to delight others.

Dan McGeehan
USA
Thursday, February 18, 1999 at 22:20:03 (EST)

Finding this marvelous meeting of fellow Leroy Anderson addicts is sheer joy, LA Anonymous anyone? Some years ago I purchased a generous supply of The Leroy Anderson Collection, a two disc collection with each CD having more than twenty cuts, MCA Classics MCAD2-99815. MCA knew it had a good thing going charging only about $12.00 for the set that has now been deleted from the catalog and replaced by a more expensive version with less music. MCA -- ARE YOU LISTENING?? Please restore The Leroy Anderson Collection, MCAD2-99815. That set will have greater appeal to more consumers, with improved sales for you! We addicts need our FIX!

Marshall
Manassas, VA USA
Thursday, February 18, 1999 at 10:18:18 (EST)

I never knew there were so many Leroy Anderson fans! It sounds as though most of us who are musicians have a special affinity for his music. I have been playing trumpet and cornet since 6th grade and was first attracted to Mr. Anderson's music when I played Bugler's Holiday in a trumpet trio in high school. It's never tiring to hear his music again and again. There's really nothing like a Leroy Anderson piece, is there? His songs so unique that I can't help but wonder what he was like in person -- anyone who could write Sandpaper Ballet has got to be an interesting person! Thanks for an entertaining site devoted to an entertaining composer.

Michael Boggiatto
Salinas, CA USA
Wednesday, February 17, 1999 at 00:16:12 (EST)

There are a million songs I love and I would never dare to label any one in particular as my favorite. Point a gun at my head however, and I would probably say "Sleigh Ride" , the song I've hummed or whistled probably on a daily basis ever since I heard it as a six-year-old boy growing up in Amsterdam. I went on to become a musician myself and was lucky enought to compose my own U.S.Hit in 1981. When I recorded the second album with my rockband Diesel, I decided to add a few bars of "Sleigh Ride" to one of the songs and it was only then I found out Leroy Anderson was its composer. It took another ten years before I found a Leroy Anderson CD and, to my astonishment, discovered that nearly all those magical tunes from my childhood-days had been composed by one and the same person. Though his name might not ring as familiar as Cole Porter's or Irving Berlin's, Leroy Anderson is, in my book, the ultimate American composer. His songs are a gift that will keep on giving.

Mark Boon
The Hague, Holland
Monday, February 08, 1999 at 19:51:56 (EST)

I have discovered Leroy Anderson through many people the magic of Leroy Anderson's misic...I am in high school and am playing a ensamble of his(Bugler's Holiday)...I hope this web sitehelps others to come to know his music...

Johnny Curington
Corsicana, TX USA
Tuesday, February 02, 1999 at 17:47:40 (EST)

I too accidently discovered Leroy Anderson's music and am so glad I did. I even found out the Blue Tango, I played in Junior high school was composed my Leroy Anderson. I am only about 40 years late in finding out. God bless his music.

Teunis F. McClain
USA
Tuesday, February 02, 1999 at 01:59:45 (EST)

It is truly amazing to see that such a man could accomplish so much in his lifetime. Leroy Anderson was clearly a distinguished individual who knew what he wanted to do, and fulfilled his goals successfully. As a friend of his family, it is quite clear to me that his descendants will carry out the traditions he brought into this world.

S. Bremner Stoner
Barrington, RI USA
Saturday, January 30, 1999 at 21:06:27 (EST)

I've been lucky to tell Mrs. Eleanor Anderson� on the phone a couple of years ago: the music of Leroy Anderson was an important part of my musical education. Years at the Music Academy in Norway could hardly compete with the impress I got from the broadcasting of his tunes. His way of arranging, his melodifealing and his rythmic elegance was what I learned and had to put against rigid rules and thinking in a classic academy invironment. In my job as a music teacher in the school here in Norway I have a lot of more thnakfulness to send to Leroy Anderson and other "light" composers than .........you know! So to his family: thank you so much! And the others....believe my words.

Jan Rudolf Pettersen
Arnes, NORWAY
Saturday, January 02, 1999 at 18:37:46 (EST)