The Typewriter: Leroy Anderson Favorites

Leroy Anderson's most famous piece is The Syncopated Clock, which became a well-known television tune in the 1950s. Anderson, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, was one of those composers who new his limitations exactly, and never wrote beyond them. He was a master at orchestral miniatures: short, tuneful pieces of musical fluff--but very high-quality fluff. Anderson lavished as much attention on one of his miniatures as Wagner did on his monster operas. They are the musical equivalent of Fabergé eggs. Slatkin treats these little gems with the loving attention they deserve, and you'll be amazed by how many of the tunes jog your memory. A delight. --David Hurwitz Amazon.com

A gift for composing light music

The ordinary thing about Leroy Anderson's music is that it is not ordinary. The booklet notes for this recording speak of his "novelty and nostalgia, melodic charm ... unexpected and sophisticated swerves of harmony ... a knack for surprise ... and a childlike delight in the funny noises." I was also somewhat amused by the booklet's statement that, "He knew very well how to fashion a piece that would exactly fit one side of a 78-rpm record."
All of these qualities are in evidence on this recording.
Unfortunately, the recording begins with the "ordinary," keeping it from rating a 5-star review. Then, when it moves to the more typical Anderson, it picks up the interest I expected when I purchased it.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Arthur Fiedler for recognizing Anderson's gift and giving him the opportunity to develop it. We should also thank Anderson for helping make the Boston Pops what they are.
While other reviewers have expressed a preference for Fiedler's recordings, we should not give this Leonard Slatkin effort the short straw. April 16, 2008

American Light Music

Leroy Anderson's music is best equated with the visual works of Norman Rockwell. Anderson, like Rockwell, paints mini-portraits, slices of life, into his musical creations, and with great success.

With this CD, is a compendium of 25 of Leroy Anderson's vast output and each of them, suprisingly, is a gem in and of itself. Anderson is a master of melody, creating the whimsical and the heartfelt. I was amazed to find that a short horn melody in "Horse and Buggy" could move me emotionally and so easily. One concern at purchasing this CD, was that his music might become trite and tired, especially with repeated listening; but Anderson is inventive in melody and he always mixes his songs up with unexpected syncopations and jazzy interpolations, not to mention the unusual battery of percussion needed to visualize the various animals, horse rides, and other crazy situations Anderson puts his orchestra in.

Leonard Slatkin and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra perform all of this music with the right gusto needed to portray Anderson's version of Americana. The only thing missing, perhaps, is the unbridled energy these works create in a live environment. While "Bugler's Holiday" and "Clarinet Candy" are played with great alacrity, the spark of the moment is lost on a recording format. Notwithstanding, this CD is an excellent choice if you can't get the live experience, excelling in musical quality, and quite frankly, is a lot of fun. Compare and contrast this CD with other Leroy Anderson collections under Arthur Fiedler, Leroy Anderson himself, as well as a Naxos release, and you will find this CD can hold its own rather easily. October 7, 2005

Fine but lacks the last ounce of vitality

This is a fine Leroy Anderson disc. No one happening upon this disc will likely be seriously disappointed. But wait! Try the recording conducted by the composer himself or the one by Arthur Fieldler before you have any last word. They both have so much verve and vitality that the music literally leaps out of the speakers. The difference hits home immediately after such numbers as Fiddle Faddle or Bugler's Holiday begin. Coming back to Slatkin, you will probably feel that his interepretaton is a bit on a sedate side. However, Slatkin brings wonderful warmth to slower numbers and has the advantage of modern digital recording. The choice is yours. May 10, 2005

A Gem Of American Music

Leroy Anderson is certainly one of the memorable and popular of American light music composer and this CD of his music really shines with the strains of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin. Simply magical. Mr Slatkin plays the music as close as Leroy Anderson intended to and not distorted any arrangements of the music. The album opens with the opulent 'Belle Of The Ball' and it waltzes ever so beautifully in digital stereo and sweeps you to an imaginary ballroom and completely swoons you. The ever popular seasonal piece 'Sleigh Ride' is stil a delight with the young at heart. The other titles in this superb CD are the immortal 'Blue Tango', the serene 'Serenata', the dreamy 'Forgotten Dreams' and the title track of the CD, the playful 'The Typewriter'. Though this album can't compare to the original Leroy Anderson albums and the evergreen Boston Pops with Arthur Fieldler, it is a fitting tribute to a gem in music that is Leroy Anderson. July 11, 2004

A Great Recording of a Lovable American Composer's Music

I've always loved the music of Leroy Anderson. It has a magical quality that tends to pull a person right into the piece. For example, who, when listening to "Sleigh Ride," does not imagine going on a ride through the snow in Vermont on a winter's day? Titles such as the" Waltzing Cat," "The Syncopated Clock" and "Belle of the Ball" all sound as their titles imply. While the music could be termed `light classical," musicians playing the pieces have to be versatile as the solo parts for works such as "Bugler's Holiday" and "Clarinet Candy" easily demonstrate.

I will have to admit, when it comes to Anderson's music, usually no one beats the Boston Pops, especially under the direction of Arthur Fiedler. For many years Anderson was a collaborator of Fielder's and many of the Pops best known arrangements are those of Anderson. Perhaps this is why the Boston Pops performances of Anderson's music have an authentic feel to them. Yet if there is a close second to The Boston Pops' performances, it would be this collection by Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony. Slatkin has a love and appreciation for the music and lead the orchestra in a competent and enjoyable manner.

This collection includes many of Anderson's favorites such as "Blue Tango," "Phantom Regiment," "Trumpeter's Lullaby," and "Fiddle Faddle" as well as many of Anderson's lesser known works. Which make the collection a real treat. April 8, 2004

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