Sleigh Ride
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) was born in Cambridge, MA. The son of Swedish immigrant parents, including a church organist mother, he began piano and organ studies early in life. He went to college at Harvard University, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music. He also led the Harvard University Band during his graduate studies. In addition to his early musical interests, he also was a prolific language learner: his PhD studies at Harvard were in German and Scandinavian languages, and he eventually became fluent in 9 languages. This unique talent led to his service as a translator and interpreter for the US military during World War II and the Korean War. While thus engaged, he also found time to compose, mostly in the light orchestral vein. Several of his legendary classical-pops pieces remain popular, and we are fortunate that he arranged many of them for wind band. Among them are Sleigh Ride, The Irish Washerwoman, Bugler’s Holiday, and Belle of the Ball.
Sleigh Ride first popped into Anderson’s head during a heat wave while he was living in Woodbury, Connecticut in the summer of 1946. From the germ of an idea that began with the middle section, it became a fully-fledged orchestral piece, completed on February 10, 1948, by which time Anderson and his wife and daughter were living in Brooklyn. It was premiered by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops on May 4 of that year, and was published in both orchestral and wind band arrangements by year’s end. Lyrics were added by Mitchell Parish in 1950. Sleigh Ride has since become a ubiquitous holiday season classic, and it has been reinterpreted by artists from Johnny Mathis to Ella Fitzgerald to Gwen Stefani, not to mention every high school trumpeter who aspires to sound like a horse.
(program note from Andy Pease)
Go Tell it On the Mountain
(arr. Jay Dawson)
Go Tell It on the Mountain is an African-American spiritual song, compiled by John Wesley Work, Jr., dating back to at least 1865, that has been sung and recorded by many gospel and secular performers. It is considered a Christmas carol because its original lyrics celebrate the Nativity of Jesus:
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
This setting by American arranger Jay Dawson leans heavily into the gospel tradition, utilizing a variety of groove patterns and feels to create a dynamic and exciting version of this holiday classic.
Christmas Favorites
James Swearingen (b. 1947)
This setting of four holiday favorites by ubiquitous arranger James Swearingen includes "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Holly Jolly Christmas," and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." Swearingen mixes lush symphonic moments, tender chorales, and bright rock to create a unique and rich tapestry of colors.
A Christmas Celebration
Kenny Bierschenk (b. 1959)
Kenny Bierschenk's "A Christmas Celebration" sets five traditional holiday carols, including "We Three Kings," "What Child Is This?," "I Saw Three Ships," "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming," and "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella."
Bierschenk's setting is unique in that many of the tunes he uses in this medley are especially old. "We Three Kings" traces it's roots back to the 13th century, "What Child Is This" (Greensleeves) and "Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming" hail from the 15th and 16th, respectively, "Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella" was written in the 17th, and the relative newcomer to the group, "I Saw Three Ships," comes from the 19th.
C'est Noel
Andre Jutras (b. 1957)
C'est Noël, a French-Canadian Christmas Celebration, is a joyous arrangement of three traditional Christmas songs known throughout Canada and America. Arranger Andre Jutras is a former English horn player with the Quebec Symphonic Orchestra and currently the music officer for the Canada Council for the Arts.
The piece begins with a brilliant introduction based on Il est né, le divin Enfant (He Is Born, the Holy Child). The andante middle section features a sonorous brass choir performing Silent Night, and ends with a joyous rendition of Angels We Have Heard on High. Listen also for Joy to the World used as a woodwind counterpoint.
(program note by Brian Ewing)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Newell H. Long (1905-1999)
The famous 19th century poem by Clement Clarke Moore (originally titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas") tells the story of Santa Claus's visit on Christmas Eve. This poem forms the backbone of many of our modern American conceptions of Santa Claus and Christmas Eve. Newell Long's musical setting compliments the poem with familiar carols such as "Up on the Housetop" and "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" as well as onomatopoetic elements that portray St. Nick's various actions.
A Christmas Festival
Leroy Anderson (1908-1975)
Leroy Anderson's "A Christmas Festival" is the holiday medley by which all others are judged. Originally composed for the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler in 1950, this medley includes "Joy to the World," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, "Good King Wenceslas," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," and "O Come All Ye Faithful." The medley is constructed as a concert overture that really leans into the symphonic potential of each of these carols. This version for band was arranged by Anderson himself.