Leroy anderson was the unrivaled master of the light orchestral miniature, with works like the typewriter and sleigh ride. Words for sleigh ride were added in 1950 by mitchell parish, and the song has since become a christmas classic. Includes an high quality pdf file to download instantly. Leroy anderson, wrote pop music the new york times. Leroy anderson s original recording of sleigh ride was the version most often played in 2010 based on performance data tracked by airplay monitoring service, mediaguide, from over 2,500 radio stations nationwide. The song has been named the most popular piece of christmas. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Technical requirements include stretches of up to a tenth, quick position shifts, finger independence, and rhythmic control. Orchestra sheet music book by leroy anderson 19081975. Very few melodies have the power to instantly create the holiday feeling with just a few notes. Sleigh ride although not originally written for christmas has so many associ. The leroy anderson songbook a centennial celebration.
Arthur fiedler premiered the song with the boston pops, who leroy was an arranger for earlier in his career. Here is leroy anderson s sparkling holiday treasure sleigh ride in an exciting new setting by mark brymer. The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other fun winter. Leroy anderson official biography american composer and. Like the first book in the series, sleigh ride is a opposites attract and an enemies to lovers story, this time one of the main character being arthur, the ginger bear who we met in the previous book in the series, let it snow. How sleigh ride ranks in the history of western music and according to the author steve metcalf who wrote the book entitled leroy anderson. A biobibliography published by praeger in 2004, sleigh ride has been performed and recorded by a wider array of musical artists than any other piece in the history of western music. Its been a hit ever since it was first recorded in 1949 by arthur fiedler and the boston pops orchestra. Thanks to those who have submitted entries to the guestbook page. The town of woodbury designated the leroy anderson house as a historic house museum in april 2018. The history behind your favorite christmas carols reader.
For advanced piano duet 1 piano, 4 hands ebook written by leroy anderson, zach heyde, frank tedesco. Arthur fiedler conducted the premiere of sleigh ride with the boston pops. Hal leonard sleigh ride 2part arranged by mark brymer. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Technical requirements include stretches of up to a tenth, quick. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read sleigh ride duet fantasy. The opening of this arrangement presents the iconic main theme with playful staccato notes interrupted by flashes of sparkling passagework. Leroy anderson, americas preeminent composer of light concert music, wrote such lively and evocative pops orchestral favorites as sleigh ride, the syncopated clock and blue tango.
Fun facts known as the most covered christmas song in the u. Satb, sab, ssa, 2part, instrumental pak and showtrax cd. The son of swedish immigrants, anderson studied composition under walter piston and georges. Sleigh ride is a story about family, friends, acceptance and finding love. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection.
Leroy anderson s sleigh ride is a christmas standard and one that is easily recognizable by its upbeat melody, sleigh bells, clipclopping, whip sound, and horse whinny. Its been 60 years since leroy anderson wrote sleigh ride, yet it remains one of our favorite christmas songs. According to bpo conductor keith lockhart, sleigh ride is the pops signature work. It is the headquarters of the leroy anderson foundation, a 501.
Leroy anderson, his wife eleanor, and their young daughter jane margareta first came to woodbury, connecticut in. Though he served in the military, taught music theory, and served as a guest conductor for almost every major orchestra in the united states, anderson is perhaps most famous for composing such popular instrumental hits as syncopated clock and sleigh ride. The original recordings were instrumental versions. Anderson sleigh ride sheet music real book with lyrics. Vocal versions of anderson hits including sleigh ride plus songs from the broadway musical goldilocks pianovocalchords anderson, leroy on. Leroy anderson wrote the music for this song during a heatwave in july of 1946, while staying at a cottage in woodbury, connecticut, with his wife and 18monthold daughter. Buy leroy anderson s album titled sleigh ride and other original hits to enjoy in your home or car, or gift it to another music lover. Sleigh ride by leroy anderson 19081975 score sheet. Master of the miniature the bostonbased composer is remembered, 100 years after his birth, for a string of threeminute popsconcert classics such as sleigh ride, the. Guest book 2020 entries on the subject of leroy anderson, sleigh ride, a christmas festival, christmas. There are more than one authors on goodreads with this name. Sleigh ride was the work of leroy anderson, a cambridge, mass. It didnt even have lyrics until after it hit the pop charts.
Arthur anderson is single now, after paul, his fuck buddy, left him because he wanted more. Few songs so completely capture the joy shared by family and friends during the winter season. This is a much loved orchestral piece composed by leroy anderson in july 1948. Sleigh ride was aired 174,758 times in 2010, making it the mostplayed holiday song on radio for the second year in a row. It begins with anderson s jingling melody and some musical banter between the primo and secondo players, and then it launches into a series of variations that take the listener on a journey through a. Leroy anderson s classic sleigh ride is one of them. Dont miss this great arrangement of leroy andersons classic wintry holi. The muchloved christmas song sleigh ride was written during an august heat wave for the boston pops orchestra.
Sleigh ride noten unterhaltungsmusik leroy anderson arr. Not bach or beethoven, but leroy anderson is the composer. On christmas eve we heard the original on the radio, which i recognized from many years ago when my parents played the lp leroy anderson conducts. An immigrants son takes a sleigh ride to the hollywood walk of fame. The leroy anderson house, the former home of leroy anderson in woodbury, connecticut, was named by the national park service to the national register of historic places in december 2012. Sleigh ride for voice and other instruments real book with lyrics, intermediate voice sheet music. A biobibliography praeger 2004, steve metcalf says sleigh ride.
Sleigh ride written by leroy anderson, 19461948 what does this song sound like. We appreciate hearing from people who enjoy leroy anderson s music. Provided to youtube by universal music group sleigh ride leroy anderson best of leroy anderson. A holiday excursion offers an audiencepleasing rendition of leroy anderson s timeless classic. Anderson was an orchestral composer who lived in the boston area and moved to woodbury permanently in 1948, where he lived until his 1975 death at age 66. Ebook leroy anderson for strings as pdf download portable. Born 1908 died 1975 studied music and european languages at harvard worked as a translator in iceland. But theres more to this piece than meets the eyeor ears. While there he wrote an icelandic grammar book for the army.
Vocal versions of anderson hits including sleigh ride plus songs from the broadway. Leroy anderson musiker musikdatenbank radio swiss jazz. Sleigh ride received its premiere on may 4,1948 with arthur fiedler conducting the boston pops orchestra at symphony hall in boston. Large, right hand clusters signal the beginning of the arrangement before the main melody enters. Sleigh ride is one of our favorite christmas songs, and there are so many versions i had forgotten what the original sounded like. The cleveland orchestra began regularly performing sleigh ride at its christmas concerts beginning in 1988. Sleigh ride is a light orchestra standard composed by leroy anderson. Listen to your favorite songs from best of leroy anderson.
Written predominantly in 78, this advanced solo piano setting of leroy anderson s sleigh ride dances around the keyboard. It covers the whole life history and career of leroy anderson and how his. Hear kurt anderson discuss the history behind sleigh ride during here and now featuring the sound of applause on 90. Leroy anderson completed sleigh ride in brooklyn on february 10, 1948. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in july 1946 and finished the work in february 1948. This concert band arrangement is sure to please audience and player alike. Leroy anderson, a longtime resident of woodbury, was one of the most popular composers of light concert music in the 20th century.
Sleigh ride although not originally written for christmas has so many associations and memories for christmas. Like winter wonderland, this song does not make any specific reference to christmas, but the seasonal imagery has made. Sleigh ride and other original hits by leroy anderson. Leroy anderson s sleigh ride is a holiday favorite, and this setting for advanced piano duet gives it a fresh twist. Sleigh ride is a popular light orchestra standard composed by leroy anderson.