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ANDERSON, L.: Orchestral Music, Vol. 2 - Suite of Carols / A Harvard Festival / Song of Jupiter

Composer(s):Anderson, Leroy
Artist(s)
Period(s) 20th Century
Genre Classical Music
Category Orchestral
Catalogue 8.559356
Label Naxos
Quality   320kbps
Album Price
 
MP3
USD 6.99
 

 


Leroy Anderson etched out his own unique place in American music – a composer rigorously trained in the classical tradition whose records topped the pop charts, a meticulous arranger of music whose own melodies were crafted with inventive precision. While he labored alone over each measure of each piece, the result sounded as if he had pulled one marvelous tune after another out of his hat almost at will. Here, in the first complete cycle of Anderson’s orchestral music, the Anderson family has made available several pieces that the composer did not release, with some first recordings scattered among the familiar and not-so-familiar titles. Volume Two contains most of the little-known works from Anderson’s last decade.


   




Review By John J. Puccio,Classical Candor,November 2009



Review By George Hall,BBC Music Magazine,October 2008



Review By James Miller,Fanfare,September 2008



Review By Andrew Lamb,Gramophone,July 2008



Review By Jonathan Woolf,MusicWeb International,July 2008

Leroy Anderson’s name on a disc cover is pretty much a guarantee of vitality, wit and enjoyment. The only proviso concerns performances. And as with the first volume in Slatkin’s Naxos series the performances are engaging, stylistically apt and full of curvaceous allure. The fact that we have five world premiere recordings—and no mere shavings from the bench at that—is surely even more reason to look favourably on this latest, peppy entrant.

The disc is excellently played and conducted—and warmly recorded—so Anderson devotees will find much to excite and entertain them.



Review By Robert Cummings,Classical Net,July 2008

That’s why this Naxos series is so valuable to the Anderson enthusiast, and to almost anyone interested in light classical music. This, the second volume in the series, contains some real gems: The Waltzing Cat (1950), Home Stretch (1962) and Lullaby of the Drums (1970), the latter billed here as a world premiere recording. Of course, there are the two hit numbers from early in his career Jazz Pizzicato and Jazz Legato, both dating to 1938. Most of these and the other numbers on the disc contain Anderson’s trademark orchestral touches, from the clattery, rhythmic percussive effects, heard in Horse and Buggy (1951) and Home Stretch to the swoops and whistles, heard in The Waltzing Cat and March of the Two Left Feet (1970).

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Review By Bob McQuiston,Classical Lost and Found,June 2008

This second volume in Naxos’ ongoing survey of Leroy Anderson’s (1908–1975) complete orchestral music features five world première recordings. Not only that, but most of the remaining eleven selections will be new to most, making this release a must for all pops enthusiasts. You’ll find each of these tiny pieces a perfectly cut, melodically lustrous gem.

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Review By John France,MusicWeb International,June 2008

I must admit that I tend towards being a completist when it comes to music. It probably goes back to days when I used hang over railway bridges and haunt the end of Motherwell station platforms to collect steam and diesel locomotive numbers. However, my thoughts on musical completeness are slightly different. It is not really my burning desire to ‘collect’ every work written by Bax, Beethoven or Bliss. Goodness knows, I would not want to plough my way through the myriad ‘dances’ for piano by Ludwig any more than I could settle down to address every sonata written by Scarlatti. But there is a valid reason for a ‘complete’ or ‘collected’ edition of the complete works of a poet, an author or a composer. It gives the listener, the student

It goes without saying that the playing is excellent and the sound quality superb. The balance of the programme is well thought out and the sleeve-notes are informative…

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Review By Uncle Dave Lewis,Allmusic.com,June 2008

The balance of the program is made up from Anderson’s less familiar material. Much of it is well worth getting to know, such as the comical March of the Two Left Feet (1970), the masterful Victorian miniature Horse and Buggy (1951), and the Suite of Carols for strings (1955), one among a handful of pieces relating to the Christmas season written for the Boston Pops. Anderson’s music always sparkles with enthusiasm…



Review By David Hurwitz,ClassicsToday.com,May 2008



Review By Frank Behrens,Bellows Falls Town Crier,May 2008

The Naxos CD series American Classics is being further enriched by “Leroy Anderson, Orchestral Music 2.” Leonard Slatkin conducts the BBC Concert Orchestra in 16 more selections by this master of the miniature musical morsel.

Included here are “Whistling kettle,” “The girl in satin,” “Lullaby of the drums,” and “Jazz Legato.” It is good to hear such unfamiliar works by Anderson played with such gusto. In fact, five of them are world premier recordings. I look forward to Volume 3. Meanwhile, this CD and Volume 1 are highly recommended.



Review By Ian Lace,MusicWeb International,May 2008



Review By Mark Styker,Detroit Free Press,May 2008

“Vol. 2” includes several world premiere recordings and pieces recently released by Anderson’s family. These are fun, but familiar favorites like “The Waltzing Cat” and “Jazz Pizzicato” make the greatest impression. If I were recommending a single Anderson CD, I’d go for Slatkin’s mid ’90s recording with the St Louis Symphony, “The Typewriter,” which gets you the greatest hits with more homegrown style.

That said, the Naxos survey is rewarding and overdue. I was taken with several works on “Vol. 2” that I didn’t know, especially a suave beguine called “The Girl in Satin” whose sighing melody is as fresh as morning dew. Charm is a vastly underrated quality in music…



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