Leroy Anderson: American Composer of Light Concert Music

Newsletter May 2006 last updated on 5/7/06

2005 Selected Performances are listed at the bottom of this page.

Please write with performance news or stories you may have about the music of Leroy Anderson: info@woodburymusic.com.

New All-Anderson Recordings
Jelani Eddington on Theatre Pipe Organ

(RJE Productions, RJE-1908A, RJE-1908B)

Award-winning theatre organist Jelani Eddington has just released a 2-volume CD compilation of Leroy Anderson music. Blue Tango and its companion disc Sleigh Ride contain 50 compositions and over 2 ½ hours of music, making them the most comprehensive collection of Leroy Anderson’s music ever recorded, and the only such recording performed on the theatre organ.

Additionally, these discs contain the first ever recording of two compositions Leroy Anderson wrote specifically for the organ: “Easter Song” and “Cambridge Centennial March Of Industry.”

The albums were recorded on the world’s largest theatre pipe organ: a five-manual, 80-rank Wurlitzer installed in the residence of Jasper & Marian Sanfilippo in Barrington, Illinois. Theatre pipe organs were developed in the early 20th century to replicate the sounds of the orchestra. Through the instruments’ many orchestral voices (such as strings, reeds, flutes) as well as various tuned percussion instruments (including the marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, and celesta), and traps and effect (such as the snare drum, wood block, triangle, tap cymbal, slide whistle, etc.), the theatre pipe organ stands in the unique position of being the only self-contained acoustic musical instrument capable of faithfully recreating orchestral music, and thereby a perfect choice for recording the music of Leroy Anderson.

The albums contain the following titles:

Blue Tango (Volume One):

Blue Tango, Clarinet Candy, The First Day Of Spring, The Phantom Regiment, The Syncopated Clock, The Waltzing Cat, Music From “Goldilocks” – (The Pussy Foot, Lazy Moon, Town House Maxixe, Shall I Take My Heart And Go?, I Never Know When To Say When), Pirate Dance, Pyramid Dance, The Golden Years, The Typewriter, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Ticonderoga March, The Penny-Whistle Song, The Irish Suite (The Irish Washerwoman, The Minstrel Boy, The Rakes Of Mallow, The Wearing Of The Green, The Last Rose Of Summer, The Girl I Left Behind Me), Serenata, Arietta, The Captains And The Kings, Easter Song.

Sleigh Ride (Volume Two)::

Sleigh Ride, Belle Of The Ball, Summer Skies, Buglers’ Holiday, Jazz Pizzicato, Jazz Legato, The Scottish Suite (The Blue Bells Of Scotland, Turn Ye To Me), Home Stretch, The Girl In Satin, Horse And Buggy, China Doll, Promenade, Forgotten Dreams, Fiddle Faddle, The Song Of The Bells, Sandpaper Ballet, Saraband, Plink, Plank, Plunk, Baladette, Cambridge Centennial March Of Industry, Piano Concerto In C for Piano And Orchestra

These albums are available at www.rjeproductions.com.

US Postal Service Commemorative Stamp for
LEROY ANDERSON
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee Seeks Input from Public

Your help is needed! The U.S. Postal Service issues commemorative stamps each year to honor American citizens. The Postal Service has yet to recognize Leroy Anderson, a composer whose music has touched the lives of millions of people.

Please write a letter in support of the proposal to issue a stamp in honor of Leroy Anderson. Address your letter to:

USPS STAMP DEVELOPMENT
ATTN: CITIZEN'S STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE
1735 NORTH LYNN ST STE 5013,
ARLINGTON VA 22209-6432

It is important, too, to ask your Senators and Representatives in Congress for their support of this proposal, and to urge them to write the Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee.

The stamp committee would be appreciative if you would send a copy of your letter to the Leroy Anderson Stamp Committee, P.O. Box 447, Woodbury, CT 06798.

Thank you!

LEROY ANDERSON CENTENNIAL in 2008
"All Anderson" Tribute Concerts Planned

The 100th Anniversary of Leroy Anderson’s birth occurs on June 29, 2008 and already orchestras are featuring his music in anticipation of this important milestone. This spring Carnegie Hall was filled with Anderson’s music as Skitch Henderson lead the New York Pops in some of Anderson’s many short compositions and also his Piano Concerto in C. He "wrote aesthetically intelligent music," points out conductor Skitch Henderson, "but it was acceptable to the masses. What a fantastic combination to put together." Skitch Henderson’s recording of Anderson’s Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra was recently released featuring Canadian pianist Catherine Wilson.

Boston Pops Laurate Conductor and Oscar-winning composer John Williams has praised Anderson’s music, "As someone who writes music, I can never take light things other than seriously. And the humorous thing in music, the light thing, the bonbon - I have abiding respect for someone who can bring that off as deftly as Leroy Anderson did repeatedly."

Leroy Anderson’s music has been played in symphony halls and band shells around the world for more than 50 years, instantly becoming a part of the lexicon of American music. Pieces such as "Sleigh Ride," "The Syncopated Clock," "Blue Tango" and "The Typewriter" are at once accessible to general audiences and appreciated by artists for their musicality.

New All Anderson Complete Works on CD

Leonard Slatkin will conduct all of Leroy Anderson’s works with the BBC Orchestra for the Naxos label, in honor of Leroy Anderson’s Centennial year. The five discs will be released individually. The first recording session takes place April 24, 2006.

Complete Printed Music

The "Published Music" page on this website now includes publisher information for all of Leroy Anderson’s music: Instrumental works for which Mitchell Parish added lyrics (Belle Of The Ball, Blue Tango, Forgotten Dreams, The Syncopated Clock, Serenata, Sleigh Ride and The Waltzing Cat); Songs from his Broadway show, Goldilocks, lyrics by Jean and Walter Kerr and Joan Ford and songs cut from Goldilocks.

Published Music

Music for Band and Choir

by W. David Richardson
Article in Instrumentalist March 2006

David Richardson includes in his listing of music for band and choir Leroy Anderson’s Pirate Dance and Pyramid Dance, lyrics for both written by Jean and Walter Kerr and Joan Ford. Another piece by Leroy Anderson for band and choir was omitted from the article: Song of Jupiter, Anderson’s transcription of “Where’ere You Walk” from, Handel’s oratorio, Semele, words by William Congreve. Song of Jupiter is also available for orchestra and the choral version may be used with either band or orchestra versions by omitting the trumpet solo at (1).

New CD - A Leroy Anderson Christmas

Universal Classics B0003552-02

A Christmas Festival and the Suites of Carols, conducted by the composer from his original recordings, are released on CD for the first time. The CD, titled "A Leroy Anderson Christmas," was released in early October 2004. It was available in stores throughout the U.S. and Canada in November and December 2004 as well as on this and other websites. While the disc is not currently being stocked in stores, it may be still be ordered from websites including this one. Website Store

The selections are:

* Sleigh Ride

A Christmas Festival

Suite of Carols for String Orchestra

Suite of Carols for Brass Choir

Suite of Carols for Woodwind Ensemble

Sleigh Ride

* Conducted by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops

LEROY ANDERSON: A Bio-Bibliography
by Burgess Speed, Eleanor Anderson, Steve Metcalf

Greenwood Press October 30, 2004

Leroy Anderson at his home in Woodbury, Connecticut

2005 ARSC AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORICAL RECORDED SOUND RESEARCH in CLASSICAL MUSIC

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections has granted to the authors of “Leroy Anderson: A Bio-Bibliography” (Praeger 2004) the 2005 Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research in the field of Classical music. This book was selected from books, articles, liner notes and monographs published in 2004. The AARC is pleased to recognize the outstanding research and discographic work done by Burgess Speed, Eleanor Anderson and Steve Metcalf, authors of “Leroy Anderson: A Bio-Bibliography.”

Leonard Slatkin,
Music Director
National Symphony Orchestra:
“the impact of Mr. Anderson's music, is impossible to measure. We gain a greater understanding of his importance to the musical community through this volume.”

Keith Lockhart,
Conductor,
Boston Pops and Music Director, Utah Symphony:
“tells the story of this inventive composer's life, while bringing together detailed information of his compositions, arrangements and recordings.”

Contents:

Biography pp.1-24

Works and Performances pp. 25-83
All works with instrumentation, performance, and archival information.

Discography pp. 84-278
Recordings conducted by the composer; all–Anderson recordings by other artists; thorough list of recordings of each title.

Bibliography pp. 279-358
Citations and in-depth annotations of articles by and about Anderson, divided by subject and cross–referenced when related.

Arrangements pp. 359-386
By Anderson of his works, selective list of his works arranged by others.

Appendixes pp. 387-486
Supplemental information: lists that are helpful for easier access to information in main body of book.

For a review copy, contact:

Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Publicity Department
(attn: "Review Copy Request")
88 Post Road West
P.O. BOX 5007
Westport, CT 06881

PublicityDept@greenwood.com

Fax: 203 222 1502

Available for purchase through the Website Store on this website. Price: $105

Leroy Anderson Video Once Upon A Sleigh Ride
airs Dec. 2005 on PBS for 6th Consecutive Year.

AMERICAN COMPOSER LEROY ANDERSON IS FONDLY REMEMBERED IN ONCE UPON A SLEIGH RIDE.

A one-hour video documentary.

Dick Cavett narrates this entertaining look at the life of composer Leroy Anderson, who gave us such popular works as Sleigh Ride, The Syncopated Clock and The Typewriter. Anderson's matchless style comes to life through performances by the Boston Pops, and in the television clips of Steve Allen, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, and Jack Jones.

Airing on

Click here to see an excerpt and visit the companion PBS Leroy Anderson website.

Website Store

Victoria (B.C.) Symphony plays Anderson

Thumbnail

Brian Jackson, conductor

"The Music of Leroy Anderson"

Victoria Symphony

Harry Currie, narrator

Royal Theatre, Victoria, B.C.

Thursday, October 28th, 2004 - 2:00pm

Friday, October 29th, 2004 - 8:00pm

Saturday, October 30th, 2004 - 8:00pm

This all-Anderson concert includes the composer's Concerto in C.

for more information about these concerts visit www.victoriasymphony.bc.ca/

National Symphony Orchestra plays Anderson

Labor Day Concert

West lawn of the U.S. Capitol building

Sunday, September 5, 2004 - 8:00pm

Emil de Cou conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in a program that includes Anderson's Saraband, The Syncopated Clock, and Fiddle-Faddle.

This free concert is a tribute to the veterans of World War II, and coincides with the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall.

Kennedy Center Open House Concert

Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 12 noon

Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

Program includes The Syncopated Clock and Fiddle-Faddle

For more information about these concerts visit www.kennedy-center.org/nso/

Anderson in Taiwan

Chi-Mei Symphony Orchestra plays Anderson.

July 23, 2004 - Tainan Culture Centre

July 25, 2004 - Kaohsiung Culture Centre

July 31, 2004 - Tainan County Culture Centre

August 3, 2004 - Taipei National Concert Hall

This series of concerts in Taiwan features a segment dedicated to Leroy Anderson's Orchestral Works. Included in the program are: Bugler’s Holiday, Blue Tango, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, and Belle of the Ball.

An enthusiastically received series, the first concert alone had a full house with 500 people watching the performance outside on the large screen.

New recording of Clarinet Candy on U.K. classical charts
April 20, 2004

A new recording of Clarinet Candy, by Great Britain’s eminent clarinetist, Emma Johnson (accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Julian Reynolds conducting) goes straight to number 3 on the U.K. classical charts. Voyage is the title of her new CD and is on the Universal Classics and Jazz label, 986 618-0.

Australian release of all-Anderson recording
March 2004

The Australian Broadcast Company releases an all–Anderson recording: Leroy Anderson: The Waltzing Cat, Piano Concerto & Other Favourites (ABC Classics 476 158-9). The titles were performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Paul Mann, and piano soloist Simon Tedeschi. Other titles included are: The Typewriter, Sleigh Ride, Blue Tango, The Syncopated Clock, Chicken Reel, Fiddle–Faddle, A Trumpeter’s Lullaby, Horse and Buggy, Plink, Plank, Plunk!, Belle of the Ball, The Irish Washerwoman, The Last Rose of Summer, The Phantom Regiment, Pyramid Dance, and Bugler’s Holiday.

New All-Anderson CD: Pianist Catherine Wilson's The Music of Leroy Anderson
Spy Recordings (a division of Aureole Classics) SRCD-001

March 2004

Catherine Wilson is joined by Ensemble Vivant, conductor Skitch Henderson and members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. New arrangements and arrangements by the composer are featured on this 2-disk set. Included is the recording of the Concerto in C that is featured in Once Upon a Sleigh Ride, the documentary about Leroy Anderson and his music.

Robots play Bugler's Holiday
March 11, 2004

Television news channels show Toyota-made robots playing trumpets, and the music they play is Bugler’s Holiday! One viewer reported, “Well, I didn’t believe it. I thought the music was a recording and the robots were just pantomiming. That is, until the presenter moved a mic into the bell of one of the trumpets and then I knew the robots were actually playing those trumpets! It sounded as if Roger Voisin were playing!”

SELECTED PERFORMANCES 2005/2006
Last updated December 7, 2005

March 28, 29 & 31 / April 2,6 & 8, 2006
San Francisco Ballet
War Memorial Opera House
San Francisco, California
Ballet: Sandpaper Ballet
Conductor: Martin West
Choreographer: Mark Morris
Program includes: .

February 4, 2005
Hamilton Philharmonic
Hamilton Place
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Artistic Director: Michael Reason
Soloist: Catherine Wilson
Program includes: Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra .

February 11 & 12, 2006
Orchestra London
Centennial Hall
London, Ontario, Canada
Conductor & Soloist: Brian Jackson
Program includes: All-Leroy Anderson program, including Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra.

December 11, 2005
Naples Concert Band, Florida
A Tribute to Leroy Anderson
Conductor: William Eriksen
Program includes: Sleigh Ride, Trumpeter's Lullaby, Buglers Holiday, Belle Of The Ball, Irish Washerwoman, Horse and Buggy, Serenata, The Girl I Left Behind Me, Song Of The Bells, Christmas Festival.

December 10, 2005
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops Concert
Flynn Center
Burlington, Vermont
Conductor: Anthony Princiotti
Program includes: Sleigh Ride.

December 9, 2005
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops Concert
Barre Opera House
Barre, Vermont
Conductor: Anthony Princiotti
Program includes: Sleigh Ride.

December 3, 2005
Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Conductors: Kurt Anderson, Oscar Bustillo
Program includes: The Syncopated Clock, The Typewriter, Sleigh Ride.

November 4, 2005
The Indian Wells Desert Symphony, California
Conductor: Edwin R. Benachowski
Program includes: The Golden Years, Girl In Satin, Serenata, Belle of the Ball, Saraband, Home Stretch.

October 29, 2005
The Landon Symphonette
Mondzac Performing Arts Center
Bethesda, Maryland
Program includes: The Waltzing Cat.

October 21, 2005
Plymouth Symphony Orchestra
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Conductor:
Soloist: Jeffrey Biegel
Program includes: Concerto for Piano in C.

October 15 & 16, 2005
Musikverein "Caecilia" Hoevel
Hoevel Fall Festival
Hoevel, Germany
Program includes: The Waltzing Cat .

October 15, 2005
Danville Symphony Orchestra
Dabville, Virginia
Conductor: Jeremy Swerling
Program includes: Song of the Bells, Sandpaper Ballet, Serenata, The Penny Whistle Song, Summer Skies, A Trumpeter's Lullaby, Bugler's Holiday, Clarinet Candy.

July 30, 2005
Orchestra dell'Insubria
Castelmur, Switzerland
Conductor: Marc Andreae
Program includes: Chicken Reel.

July 3, 4 & 6, 2005
Hochschulorchester Paderborn
Audimax der Universität
Paderborn, Germany
Conductor: Steffen Schiel
Soloist: Eckard Wiemann
Program includes: Concerto for Piano in C.

July 2 and 3, 2005
New York Philharmonic
New York, New York
Conductor: Bramwell Tovey
Program includes: Fiddle-Faddle, The Penny-Whistle Song, Bugler's Holiday.

July 3, 2005
The United States Coast Guard Band
New London, Connecticut
Conductor: Lt. Kenneth W. Megan
Program includes: Summer Skies, The Typewriter, Clarinet Candy.

June 18, 2005
Danbury Symphony Orchestra
Danbury, Connecticut
Conductor: Kurt Anderson
Program includes: The Syncopated Clock, The Waltzing Cat, Plink, Plank, Plunk!, Fiddle-Faddle, The Penny-Whistle Song, The Typewriter, Bugler's Holiday

June 16, 2005
Gottinger Symphonic Orchestra
Gottinger, Germany
Conductor: Reto Parolari
Program includes: Concerto in C for Piano and Orchestra

May 15, 2005
Greater Waterbury Youth Symphony
Waterbury, Connecticut
Conductor: Vesna Mehinovic
Program includes: The Syncopated Clock.

May, 2005 - The Vermont Symphony Orchestra's biennial orchestral youth concert tour took place the first week of May 2005. Associate Conductor Anthony Princiotti lead the 30-member orchestra in five concerts that took place in Manchester, Rutland, Barre and Newport, VT as well as in Lebanon, NH. Leroy Anderson's music was featured in each concert including The Typewriter.

April 22 - 24, 2005 - The Rogue Valley (Medford, Oregon) Symphony Orchestra with Arthur Shaw, conductor, and Jeffrey Biegl, pianist, performs Leroy Anderson's Concerto for Piano in C in three performances: Friday, April 22, Saturday, April 23, & Sunday, April 24, 2005.

April 22, 2005 - The Marshall (Missouri) Philharmonic Orchestra with Charles Ferguson, conductor, and Nora L. Husle, pianist, performs Leroy Anderson's Concerto for Piano in C Friday, April 22, 2005.

April 7, 2005 - The South Texas Symphony with Peter Dabrowski, conductor, and Adam Wodnicki, pianist, performs Leroy Anderson's Concerto for Piano in C Thursday, April 7, 2005.

April 1, 2005 - The New York Pops Orchestra with Skitch Henderson, conductor, and Catherine Wilson, pianist, performs Leroy Anderson's Concerto for Piano in C Friday, April 1, 2005.

February 27, 2005 - The National Symphony Orchestra with Emil DeCou, conductor, performs Leroy Anderson's music as part of a Kennedy Center festival called "A New America: The 1940s and the Arts". The family series concert takes place in the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center and is called "Three Greats of the 1940s: Anderson, Ellington and Copland". The NSO will perform Anderson's Overture to Goldilocks, Syncopated Clock, The Typewriter, Jazz Pizzicato, Classical Jukebox and other pieces by the composer. Two performances: 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. The concerts are free. For more information about these concerts visit www.kennedy-center.org/nso/

February 5, 2005 - The Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Symphony Orchestra with Guy Victor Bordo, conductor, and Michael Chertock, pianist, performs Leroy Anderson's Concerto for Piano in C Saturday, February 5, 2005. For more information visit the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra website or call the orchestra at 920.452.1985.

January 29 - February 6, 2005 - The Chi-Mei Symphony Orchestra with Fuchi Hsu, conductor, performs Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, Forgotten Dreams and The Typewriter on a tour of several Taiwan cities. The dates for the concerts are: Jan 29 and 31, Feb 2, 4, and 6.

SELECTED PERFORMANCES 2004

October 30, 2004 - The Singapore Chinese Orchestra performs Chicken Reel, transcribed for traditional Chinese instruments. The concert, which takes place at the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall, is intended as an introduction to Chinese instruments and music.

June 25, 2004 - An All-American Pops concert in Sibiu, Romania features two Anderson compositions, Bugler's Holiday and Trumpeter's Lullaby. Christopher Confessore conducts the Sibiu Philharmonic.

May 23 and 30, 2004 - The Golden Years is included in concerts given by the Palm Court Orchestra, of Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada.

June 27, 2004 - The Larry Dalton Orchestra presents a concert titled “A Portrait of America." The program, which includes Serenata and Sandpaper Ballet, takes place in the Benson Great Hall, St. Paul, Minnesota.

February/March, 2004 - The U.S. Army Field Band, with Colonel Finley R. Hamilton conducting, includes Fiddle-Faddle on its Northeastern Tour program, a tour that includes a performance in Woodbury, Connecticut where Leroy Anderson lived for many years.

February 8, 2004 - Mexico's Banda de Musica del Estado de Oaxaca performed Leroy Anderson's Belle of the Ball at their February 8, 2004 concert with Eliseo Martinez Garcia conducting.