[78-L] Leroy's Buddy - me!

[Taylor Bowie]

Leroy Anderson:  I like every dang thing of his I've ever heard.  Even the 
ones that are almost "too clever" are still very musical.

My faves of his are Belle of the Ball,  Sleigh Ride and #1 is Serenata..the 
latter due to a fantastic version on one of those Enoch Light Command LPs 
called "Reeds and Percussion."  Toots Mondello on lead alto with an 
eight-man sax section playing the main theme...wow!

Taylor


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kristjan Saag" <saag at telia.com>
To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 4:07 AM
Subject: Re: [78-L] The Christmas Songs


>I wrote:
>>> I assure you: "Sleigh Ride" is as dead as a doornail after December
>>> 26 even in the iciest parts of Northern Norway.
>
> Mike Biel wrote:
> > Not here in the U.S.  Since I knew one member of the Leroy Anderson
>> family and have talked with another, I don't think they would appreciate
>> their royalties stopping cold on Dec 26!
>
> ---
> And I've co-arranged a Leroy Anderson 100 year memorial concert in 
> Gothenurg
> in January where the conductor was happy to exclude "Sleigh Ride", just
> because nobody wants to hear Christmas Songs in January.
> And it would probably stay that way no matter the number of lectures Mike
> gave about how to distinguish a Christmas Song from a Santa-free Winter
> Song.
> BTW, here are a few quotes from the official Leroy Anderson website
> guestbook. They are all from American contributors...
> --
>
> "My top favorites are "Belle of the Ball," "Sleigh Ride" (also my favorite
> Christmas piece)."
>
> "I am in my mid-fifties now, and so most of my Christmas memories as a
> child, were in the 50s and 60s.
> I always remember those happy childhood, festive holidays and in 
> particular
> that exciting and magical piece of orchestral music Sleigh Ride."
>
> "Sleighride IS my favorite Christmas song and coming from Michigan I know 
> a
> sleighride when I speak of one. haha."
>
> "Well...it's Christmas time again and I work for a major retail store, and
> so I am treated to Christmas music in the background while at work. 
> Probably
> at least three times a day I hear various versions, both vocal and
> instrumental, of Mr. Anderson's wonderful Sleigh Ride. It always seems to 
> be
> a standout from the rest in it's wonderful, joyful originality and 
> timeless
> quality."
>
> "I watched the special on PBS last night and was thrilled to see how Mr.
> Anderson composed. I never knew who wrote the song I hum every year at
> Christmas time. It sounds like Mr. Anderson was a very special man and I
> will enjoy his music forever and my 10 year old daughter is following in 
> my
> footsteps at humming Sleigh Ride and we love it."
>
> Lots of work ahead, Mike.
> Happy New Year
> Kristjan
>
> _______________________________________________
> 78-L mailing list
> 78-L at klickitat.78online.com
> http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l
>