Leroy Anderson The (Underappreciatedly) Great

So, I’m not entirely sure “underappreciatedly” is an actual word, but it’s the right word for the job, because I’m just going to come out and say it: Leroy Anderson’s fantastic.

Really great, actually. In fact, were it not for the inescapable, ear-boring “Sleigh Ride”, I suspect he’d be far more recognized as a serious composer. …or at least as a composer with serious melodic gifts.

A controversial statement, perhaps, though the eternal optimist in me holds out hope that it will find broad acceptance. The man deserves to be remembered for more than that single seasonal.

Much (even most) of his work feels at least a little tongue-in-cheek, which may be held against it when vying for the attention of Serious Music Lovers. But just listen to this for a bit, will ya? What’s not to love?

Too Irish? What about “Serenata?”

Still too folksy? Too regional? How’s about his Concerto in C Major, then?

Look. I’m not saying he’s a Top 5 guy. I’m just sayin’ that if you’re willing to take Gershwin seriously, there’s no reason not to like Leroy. And I’ve got Leonard Slatkin to back me up (via NPR).

“You know, I’ve always thought of this music as being as sophisticated as any of the so-called big names that we do; it’s just that he did it in miniature. So is it any different when a short Leroy Anderson piece parodies, or tries to pay homage to, a dance form like the saraband? Is that any different, really, than Mozart , who would poke fun at the same form, or Brahms or Schubert or Mahler? I don’t think so.”

Still having trouble?

Just pretend “Sleigh Ride” never happened, OK? Just listen to “Bugler’s Holiday” over and over again instead. It’s easier to stomach. Or try “Mavis Beacon Teaches Typi” …er… “The Typewriter.” (Except that last one might not encourage us to take Leroy seriously. Oh, and my wife insists that I tell everyone that I don’t hate on “Sleigh Ride” because it’s bad musically. It’s not. It just that it’s been done to death.)

Attribution(s): “Leroy, Smoking” is courtesy of Getty Images, which allows the use of certain images “as long as the photo is not used for commercial purposes (meaning in an advertisement or in any way intended to sell a product, raise money, or promote or endorse something);” “Naval Militia Bugler” by American Press Association from the National Geographic Magazine, Volume 31 is licensed under Public Domain via Wikipedia Commons; “Typewriter,” via photopin (license).