![]() ![]() Leroy Anderson (1908–1975) –Jazz Pizzicato and The Waltzing Cat (Decca studio orchestra Leroy Anderson, cond.) MCA 9815 On This Day Birthsġ711 - Baptismal date of British composer William Boyce, in London ġ786 - German-born Danish pianist and composer Friedrich Kuhlau, in Ülzen (near Hanover) ġ825 - Conservative Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick, in Prague ġ935 - Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, in Paide ġ733 - French harpsichordist and composer François Couperin ("le Grand"), age 64, in Paris ġ949 - French composer Henri Rabaud, age 76, in Paris ġ985 - English composer William Alwyn, age 79, in Southwold ġ887 - Dvorák: Mass in D, Op. “I just did what I wanted to do,” Anderson once said, “and it turned out that people liked it.” Music Played in Today's Program With the exception of a short-lived Broadway musical from 1958 entitled “Goldilocks,” the bulk of Anderson’s works are short, witty orchestral pieces, superbly crafted works intended to make audiences smile. That was the year that Anderson wrote his only extended orchestral work, a Piano Concerto. One of them, “Blue Tango,” sold over a million copies.īy 1953, one national survey found that Leroy Anderson was the most-performed American composer of his day. Anderson recorded both those pieces at his 1950 Decca session and also the first performance of a brand-new work, entitled “The Waltzing Cat.” In fact, after 1950 most of Anderson’s premieres took place at Decca recording sessions. Since 1938, Anderson had been associated with the Boston Pops, for whom he had composed a string of very successful pieces, beginning with “Jazz Pizzicato” and “Jazz Legato,” complimentary works designed for the two sides of a 78-rpm disc. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.On today’s date in 1950, Decca recording engineers committed to disc seven short works by the American composer Leroy Anderson, with Anderson himself conducting top-notch New York freelance musicians. In 1951 Anderson wrote his first hit, “Blue Tango”, earning a Golden Disc and the No. Anderson was a reserve officer and was recalled to active duty for the Korean War. But his duties did not prevent him from composing, and in 1945 he wrote “The Syncopated Clock” and “Promenade”. ![]() Later in 1945 he was assigned to the Pentagon as Chief of the Scandinavian Desk of Military Intelligence. ![]() ![]() Army, and was assigned to Iceland as a translator and interpreter. Fiedler suggested that a companion piece be written and thus Anderson wrote Jazz Legato in 1938. Anderson’s first work was Jazz Pizzicato in 1938. His arranging work came to the attention of Arthur Fiedler in 1936 and Anderson was asked to show Fiedler any original compositions. During this time he was also working as organist and choir director at the East Milton Congregational Church, leading the Harvard University Band, and conducting and arranging for dance bands around Boston. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929 and Master of Arts in 1930.Īnderson continued studying at Harvard, working towards a PhD in German and Scandinavian languages. In 1925 Anderson entered Harvard University, where he studied theory with Walter Spalding, counterpoint with Edward Ballantine, harmony with George Enescu, composition with Walter Piston and double bass with Gaston Dufresne. He continued studying piano at the New England Conservatory of Music. John Williams described him as “one of the great American masters of light orchestral music.”īorn in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Swedish parents, Anderson was given his first piano lessons by his mother, who was a church organist. Leroy Anderson was an American composer of short, light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler. ![]()
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