Search - Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra, Leroy Anderson & His "Pops" Concert Orchestra :: Leroy Anderson Christmas

A Christmas Colelction With Both The Familiar and Unfamiliar

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 11/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

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Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" is one of the best known holiday melodies and is included on numerous Christmas music collections. It is a piece that captures a listeners imagination conjuring up memories of an old fashioned sleigh ride even though most of us who listen have probably never traveled over the snow covered land in a sleigh. It's quite possible that Anderson himself, a city dweller most of his life, never traveled in a Currier and Ives like sleigh ride, but his gifts as a composer make us all feel as if we have vicariously experienced this winter pleasure.



"Sleigh Ride" is not Anderson's only contribution to the holiday season. As gifted as he was as a composer, he was a talented arranger as well. This collection, re-released by Decca includes "Sleigh Ride" but also three of his Christmas suites. His "Christmas Festival" was made famous by Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops and was a staple of Pops Christmas concerts until a critic in the BOSTON GLOBE said it was old and stale. The disc also includes three other arrangements one for strings, one for woodwinds and one for brass. Each of the arrangements displays Anderson's gift for instrumentation.



The arrangements of the suites for woodwinds, brass, and strings will probably be something new for many listeners and will certainly be enjoyed. People familiar with "Christmas Festival" from Boston Pops recordings may find this recording somewhat lackluster. The magnificent organ of Boston's Symphony Hall gives the piece a flair that seems to be missing in this recording. Also the recording of "Sleigh Ride" which is performed by the Pops under the direction of Fiedler is not as exciting other performances. My guess is that most people will purchase this recording for the brass, string, and woodwind arrangements and will find this disc adds something to a good collection of holiday music.

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THE LONG-AWAITED CHRISTMAS ALBUM

Ernest A. Dupont | Fort Coulonge QC Canada | 01/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, we North Americans have the great "A Christmas Festival" conducted by Leroy Anderson on CD. The whole collection, like the preceding LP of the 60's, is infectious and brilliantly played. The final sound is a little edgy... there seems to be a lack of sound space in the compressing. I would not hesitate to give this a 5-star rating. It will have you dancing for joy. The cackle and pop of the LP are gone. The sound is there, edgy as I said, but still quite musical. The next best version of "A Christmas Festival" is the one conducted by John Williams."

The Musical Mister Christmas

gofinsc | Columbia SC | 07/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After hearing the Carol Suites for strings and brass on a complete survey of Leroy Anderson's music on Naxos, but not the one for woodwinds (coming later on another volume?), I located it here and jumped on this album. Anderson was a terrific arranger in addition to being a composer, and, as most know, worked with the Boston Pops for many years. These selections show his skills to great effect. You know "Sleigh Ride" and "Christmas Festival", but the Suites were new to me. They are full versions of many carols, since Anderson, as reported in the notes, did not want to do just another compilation piece. Anderson himself conducts, except for a Fiedler/Boston Pops "Sleigh Ride", which everybody has 3 or 4 versions of elsewhere, so skip track 1 as a filler and go straight to the good stuff, including an Anderson-led "Sleigh Ride". You won't be disappointed in the music. The recording isn't really warm and full (sounds somewhat like the annual RCA and Columbia Special Products Christmas LP's), but it's plenty good enough. Made me almost ready for Christmas, listening in June. Almost."