In "The Typewriter," for instance, Leroy Anderson called upon his percussionist to play an actual typewriter - carriage returns and all. But in "Sleigh Ride" his players imitated spunky sled horses using nothing more than trumpets and wood blocks. While "Syncopated Clock," predictably, portrays a timepiece with a singular affinity for rhythm, other compositions vividly evoke animals ("The Waltzing Cat"), seasons ("The First Day of Spring"), household objects ("Sandpaper Ballet"), or merely glorious nonsense ("Plink Plank Plunk!" and "Fiddle Faddle").

Anderson continued working with the Boston Pops till shortly before his death in 1975, but he made his biggest splash upon founding his own orchestra for Decca Records in 1950. During the next few years, Anderson mainly recapitulated his greatest hits in a series of singles - remember, these were the days before the standard 12-inch LP. But, during 1951, the maestro scored a #1 hit (and million-seller) with "Blue Tango," an exotic piece that capitalized on the current American craze for all things Latin. More recordings - and new compositions - would follow, but by the early 60's rock 'n' roll had driven Anderson's brand of musical whimsy all but off the charts. As one writer notes, however, everyone knows Leroy Anderson's songs - even though they may not know the title, let alone the composer!

The Decca recordings (1950-1962) are documented on the smartly-annotated, crisply-mastered Sleigh Ride: The Best Of Leroy Anderson (1997). In the alternative, purchase MCA's inexpensive 47-song, 2-CD set, The Leroy Anderson Collection (1988) - more comprehensive, but cheaply packaged. Of course, as America's most popular composer, many recordings of Anderson's work now dot the commercial landscape. More notable albums include tributes by conductors Leonard Slatkin, Frederick Fennell, and Erich Kunzel.

Finally, as the title of Sleigh Ride: The Best Of Leroy Anderson implies, the composer is best remembered for his effervescent holiday tune - which was originally written as an instrumental and which, even in the Mitchell Parish-penned lyrics, never actually mentions Christmas. Those seeking more (or, rather, less) of the same, however, should track down A Leroy Anderson Christmas (2004), which includes the Boston Pops' rendition of "Sleigh Ride" and Anderson's own performance of "A Christmas Festival," his epic arrangement of seasonal favorites.  [top of page]