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Leroy Anderson

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Leroy Anderson

Biography

Leroy Anderson (29 June 1908, Cambridge, Mass. - 18 May 1975, Woodbury, Conn.) was an American composer.

Anderson was born to Swedish immigrants. He attended Harvard University where he received bachelor's and master's of art degrees in music and eventually attained a Ph.D. in German and Scandinavian languages. His composition teachers included George Enescu and Walter Piston. While in school he tutored music at Ratcliffe College and was director of the Harvard University Band.

After hearing Anderson's arrangements for band, Arthur Fiedler asked him to do an arrangement of Harvard songs for the Boston Pops Orchestra. This eventually led to the orchestra performing original works by Anderson. He served in the United States Army during World War II as an interpreter for the Counter Intelligence Corps and rose to the positions of chief of the Scandinavian Department of Military Intelligence.

After the war, Anderson moved to Connecticut and composed some of his most successful works, including Sleigh Ride (1948). His The Syncopated Clock (1945) was used as the theme show for The Late Show for 25 years and his album Blue Tango sold over a million copies in 1952. As his compositions grew in popularity, Anderson conducted more with orchestras across the United States.

He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame the year after his death in 1975.


Works for Winds

Adaptable Music

  • Sleigh Ride (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fernie) (1948/)
  • Sleigh Ride (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Torskangerpoll) (1948/2020)


All Wind Works


Resources

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