Anderson: Complete Orchestral Works / Slatkin, BBC Concert Orchestra

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Grab the set as soon as you can.

Leroy Anderson occupies a unique place in American music. Rigorously trained in the classical tradition, Anderson wrote tunes that topped the pop charts, making compositions such as Sleigh Ride and The Typewriter world famous. Anderson was a meticulous craftsman who could seemingly compose marvelous tunes at will, and he has been praised by iconic film composer John Williams as "one of the great American masters of light orchestral music." This first set of Anderson’s orchestral music includes several previously unpublished pieces made available by the Anderson family, with world premiere recordings included among many familiar and not-as-familiar titles.

REVIEW:

It’s an injustice to say that Anderson (1908-1975) was a great composer of light musical miniatures. He was a great composer, period. After all, his irresistible melodies, impeccable craft, imaginative orchestrations, and faultless sense of proportion remain as fresh today as in his mid-20th-century heyday. Furthermore, Anderson clearly subscribed to the old adage “know thyself”. He knew his strengths and his gifts, and he knew what he did best. Within this niche, Anderson managed to create works that are deliciously varied in mood and character, yet always to the point, always full of little surprises, never formulaic, and chock-full of humor.

Once past the surface novelty of The Typewriter soloist’s clicking keys and carriage-bell interjections, notice Anderson’s refusal to adhere to simple 8- or 16-bar phrase units. Listeners from a certain generation may remember The Syncopated Clock’s first theme used to introduce television’s The Late Show (or was it the Late, Late Show?), but not necessarily the simple yet crucial transitional bars of music building into the loud central episode.

Sleigh Ride, of course, is one of Anderson’s most ubiquitous and justly popular masterpieces. Yet many other Anderson gems remained unknown or obscure until Leonard Slatkin recorded them for this series, such as A Harvard Festival (a kind of Americana take on Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture), Lullaby of the Drums, and the admittedly lightweight but super-fun three-movement Piano Concerto. Had the composer lived to hear Jeffrey Biegel’s incisive shaping of the solo part, along with the BBC Concert Orchestra’s shipshape rhythmic precision, perhaps he wouldn’t have withheld this work from publication.

Then there’s The Classical Jukebox, where themes of Wagner and Liszt provide a platform upon which Anderson interpolates the Teresa Brewer novelty pop hit “Music Music Music” (aka “Put another nickel in, in the Nickelodeon”). What’s wonderful about this piece is how Anderson’s clever use of quotations never sounds forced, nor belabors the obvious.

Perhaps the songs from Anderson’s 1958 Broadway musical Goldilocks are a little too clever for the purpose of creating character or moving the story along. That said, Kim Criswell and William Dazeley sing them better than anyone, even if I have a soft spot for the young Elaine Stritch’s “actor/singer” interpretations on the original Broadway cast album.

Leonard Slatkin understands Anderson’s style perfectly, and elicits consistently superb playing from the BBC Concert Orchestra. You’ll never hear the demanding brass antiphony in Bugler’s Holiday tossed off with such brisk insouciance, or such euphonious soft woodwind tuttis in The Phantom Regiment. However, certain performances on Slatkin’s earlier St. Louis Symphony Anderson collection have the edge, such as Plink, Plank, Plunk!, where the St. Louis pizzicato strings are crisper and cleaner than their BBC counterparts. And nothing beats the sheer joy and nervous energy of Anderson’s own performances that were briefly available on CD in MCA’s Double Decker series; these are desperately in need of reissue. But this is nitpicking. In all, the Naxos Slatkin/Anderson cycle does full and loving justice to one of America’s most beloved and enduring composers.

Grab the set as soon as you can.

-- ClassicsToday.com (David Hurwitz)



Product Description:


  • Release Date: November 12, 2021


  • Catalog Number: 8505259


  • UPC: 747313525935


  • Label: Naxos


  • Number of Discs: 5


  • Period: 20th Century


  • Composer: Edward MacDowell, George Gershwin, Leroy Anderson, Meredith Willson


  • Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  • Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra


  • Performer: Alistair Young, Catherine Moore, David McCallum, Derek Hannigan, Jeffrey Biegel, Jenny McLaren, John Blackshaw, Kim Criswell, Michael Pearce, Neville Graham, William Dazeley



Works:


  1. Bugler's Holiday

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  2. Blue Tango

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  3. The First Day of Spring

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  4. Belle of the Ball

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  5. Governor Bradford March

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  6. Clarinet Candy

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  7. The Captains and the Kings

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  8. The Golden Years

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  9. Chickn Reel

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  10. Fiddle-Faddle

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  11. The Classical Jukebox

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  12. China Doll

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  13. Balladette

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  14. Arietta

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  15. Piano Concerto in C Major

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Jeffrey BIegel (Piano)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  16. Woodbury Fanfare

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  17. A Harvard Festival

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  18. Forgotten Dreams

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Alistair Young (Piano)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  19. Whistling Kettle

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  20. Horse and Buggy

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  21. The Waltzing Cat

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  22. Home Stretch

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  23. The Girl in Satin

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  24. March of the Two Left Feet

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  25. Waltz of the Scale

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  26. Lullaby of the Drums

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  27. Jazz Legato

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  28. Jazz Pizzicato

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  29. Song of the Bells

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  30. Song of Jupiter

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: David McCallum (Trumpet)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  31. Suite of Carols for String Orchestra

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  32. Harvard Sketches

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  33. Melody on Two Notes

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  34. Mother's Whistler

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  35. The Penny Whistle Song

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  36. The Phantom Regiment

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  37. Plink, Plank, Plunk!

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  38. Promenade

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  39. Sandpaper Ballet

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  40. Saraband

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  41. Serenata

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  42. Old MacDonald Had a Farm

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  43. Seventy-Six Trombones

    Composer: Meredith Willson (arr. Leroy Anderson)

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  44. Sleigh Ride

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  45. Suite of Carols for Brass Choir

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  46. Wintergreen for President

    Composer: George Gershwin (arr. Leroy Anderson)

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  47. The Typewriter

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Alasdair Malloy (Typewriter)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  48. A Trumpeter's Lullaby

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Catherine Moore (Trumpet)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  49. The Syncopated Clock

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  50. Irish Suite

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  51. To A Wild Rose

    Composer: Edward MacDowell (orch. Leroy Anderson)

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  52. Summer Skies

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  53. Scottish Suite

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  54. Blue Tango

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  55. Forgotten Dreams

    Composer: Leroy Anderson (arr. Robert Wendell)

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  56. Belle of the Ball

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano), William Dazeley (Baritone)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  57. Alma Mater

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  58. A Christmas Festival

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  59. Goldilocks (excerpts)

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano), William Dazeley (Baritone)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  60. Suite of Carols (version for woodwinds)

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano), William Dazeley (Baritone)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  61. Goldilocks: Lady in Waiting, Waltz

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano), William Dazeley (Baritone)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin


  62. Goldilocks: Shall I Tske My Heart

    Composer: Leroy Anderson

    Ensemble: BBC Concert Orchestra

    Performer: Kim Criswell (Soprano), William Dazeley (Baritone)

    Conductor: Leonard Slatkin