Customer Reviews

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The music of Leroy Anderson can best be described as a piece of American Apple Pie, he's the Norman Rockwell of Americana music. Almost everyone knows some tunes by this composer. His delightful and feel good music just makes you happy. Leroy Anderson's best known works are "The Syncopated Clock", "The Typewriter", and "Sleigh Ride", but there are many more just as tuneful. This recording by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops has many merits, but, in all honesty, there are better recordings and performances available. Some of the problems with this CD range from ill-advised tempos ("Fiddle Faddle" is performed way too fast), muddy acoustics, sloppy playing, and live performances ("The Irish Suite") with coughing and applause. I usually avoid live performances because of the usual problems that are associated with them. No place on the CD's front or back cover does it mention that there are live performance tracks. Although price-wise this CD is a good value and contains some enjoyable renditions, I would suggest looking toward the Frederick Fennell (Mercury Living Presence) or Leonard Slatkin (RCA) CDs for better sound and performances. There are also other good CDs available, such as a mono recording in which composer Leroy Anderson conducts his own music. You can't get much better than that.

Leroy Anderson's music is among America's best known, yet he is one of America's least recognized composers. No orchestra in the world can escape a December concert without Sleigh Ride. Al Hirt's Trumpeter's Lullaby makes me cry. Belle of the Ball makes me dance. Lots of "toe tappers" in this collection. A few greats such as Sandpaper Ballet left out, and liner notes could be more complete. Still, Arthur Fiedler's Boston Pops does Leroy Anderson's music best.

Because he is considered a "pop" composer, Leroy Anderson has not gotten the recognition he deserves as a writer of fabulous tunes. In an age when the writing of actual melodies seems almost lost, Anderson produced gem after gem of beautiful and often funny music. This CD provides a terrificd sampling of his fabulous short works.

WARNING: Playing this album in a moving vehicle could cause the driver to accelerate unconsciously by 15 to 20 mph. Belle of the Ball, Syncopated Clock, and the Blue Tango were standards of my childhood. Sleigh Ride belongs to everybody. And this collection may be the apothesis of mid-20th Century pops orchestra music. Until I got this album, I thought Leroy Anderson built his own band. Apparently he never did. His signature compositions here are performed by the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, with guest appearances by Al Hirt on the trumpet and bugle exercises. The Anderson approach to writing music seems to be a perfect match for the Fiedler approach to using the entire orchestra in stimulating ways. Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, everybody gets his moment in the spotlight. Pops orchestral music was never more fun to listen to than this. Admittedly, masses of music consumers now living will never take notice of this kind of work, but for those whose tastes are broad enough to extend to pre-1963, this readily available little jewel will brighten your collection and consistently delight you whenever you load it into your player.

This recording stands along with Andersons own recordings as one of the best made of his music. A must have for Anderson fans. I only hope that someday RCA Victor will right a great wrong: Of the 20+ titles in this series, this is the only one in which the cover does not display a Hirschfeld caricature of the featured composer. Instead, it depicts the conductor, Arthur Fiedler. Come on, RCA: it's not as if reference photographs don't exist.

A wonderful edition to anyone's collection. This one will not be gathering dust on the CD rack--also expected to be a "most likely to get worn out" from plenty of play time.

While I have another Anderson CD with almost the exact same song list, I bought this one because I am a fan of the Boston Pops under Fiedler. This is a fun CD, but for some of the pieces, they seem to be conducted slightly too fast.

The music of Leroy Anderson paints wonderful images that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.

I've always love the music of LeRoy Anderson - this CD has some of his best! I bought one for myself and one for my grandson (a trumpet player), and he enjoys it too.

I suggest that everyone include works by Leroy Anderson in their musical collections. Most everyone has heard some of his music, some without knowing the composer is very popular and whose music is heard and enjoyed around the world.