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COMPOSER LEROY ANDERSON BEGAN WRITING 'SLEIGH RIDE' DURING A HEAT WAVE IN JULY, 1946 AND FINISHED IT IN FEB. 1948. IT WAS NOT WRITTEN AS A CHRISTMAS PIECE, BUT AS A WORK THAT DESCRIBES A WINTER EVENT. THE LYRICS WERE WRITTEN BY MITCHELL PARISH IN 195
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Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi
Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.
Song Info
Genre
Pop • Christmas/Seasonal
Charts
Peak #189
Peak in subgenre #10
Author
Leroy Anderson
Rights
public domain
Uploaded
December 13, 2009
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.7 MB • 187 kbps • 2:46
Story behind the song
This was performed by the United States Coast Guard Band in 1981. The conductor was Lieutenant Lewis J. Buckley. The performance was recorded at Leamy Hall Auditorium in New London, Connecticut. "Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person, were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950. The orchestral version was first recorded in 1949 by Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra. The song was a hit record on RCA Victor Red Seal 49-0515 (45 rpm) / 10-1484 (78 rpm), and has become the equivalent of a signature song for the orchestra. The 45 rpm version was originally issued on red vinyl. This original mono version has never been available on CD, although the later 1959 re-recording is available in stereo. The orchestra has also recorded the song with John Williams, their conductor from 1979 to 1995, and Keith Lockhart, their current conductor. Leroy Anderson recorded his version of "Sleigh Ride" in 1950 on Decca (45 rpm) / (78 rpm). This monaural version is available on CD as well as his 1959 stereo re-recording. This recording hit the Cashbox magazine best sellers chart when re-released in 1952. Mitch Miller also did a version of this song in 1961, found in the best-selling LP Holiday Sing Along With Mitch. Although "Sleigh Ride" is often associated with Christmas, and often appears on Christmas compilation albums, the song's lyrics never specifically mention any holiday or religion except certain "Sleigh Ride" versions (the Carpenters and Air Supply being examples). In fact, the mention of pumpkin pie in the last verse might suggest an association with Thanksgiving rather than Christmas. According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers [ASCAP] review of Christmas music, "Sleigh Ride" consistently ranks in the top 10 list of most performed songs written by ASCAP members during the Christmas season worldwide. According to author Steve Metcalf in the book Leroy Anderson: A Bio-Bibliography, "Sleigh Ride"... has been performed and recorded by a wider array of musical artists than any other piece in the history of Western music."
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