Leroy Anderson Favorites: Score
Composed by Leroy Anderson / arr. Calvin Custer
Grade: 3.5
Item: 00-PR-0002260
$9.00
Pickup currently not available
Description
Leroy Anderson's melodies have become classic standards the world over. Calvin Custer has taken four of his most popular hits -- "Blue Tango," "Belle of the Ball," "The Syncopated Clock" and "Serenata" -- and combined them into one giant medley. Moderate in difficulty, this medley should be in every orchestra library! (5:59)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Leroy Anderson Favorites: Score comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
Open in the Player
Jump straight in and assign it today.
Start Your Free Trial
Open this title and explore the full library in minutes.
Sample Audio
1
Audio File
--:--
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Pop Concert Full Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
340
SKU:
00-PR-0002260
More about this title
About the Arranger: Calvin Custer
Calvin Custer earned recognition as a skilled orchestrator and arranger, bringing fresh life to beloved popular standards through thoughtful scoring for school and community ensembles. His work demonstrates a keen ear for balancing accessibility with musical substance, creating arrangements that engage performers without oversimplifying the material.
Why we love this
Custer's medley captures what makes Anderson's catalogue so enduring: instantly recognizable melodies that audiences love, now packaged into one continuous suite. The Grade 3.5 scoring keeps all sections active and rewarded without requiring virtuosic chops, making this a smart choice for orchestras seeking repertoire that plays well while sounding polished and substantial.
What to expect
Light, charming, and genuinely nostalgic. The medley floats between moments of elegance ("Serenata"), playful rhythmic snap ("The Syncopated Clock"), and straightforward melodic beauty, creating a program piece that delights listeners without demanding their sustained attention.
Who it's for
Orchestras at the intermediate level who want accessible, audience-friendly material without sounding thin or elementary. If your group can handle Grade 3.5 repertoire with reasonable sectional balance, this works as an excellent choice for pops concerts, community performances, or your spring concert's lighter half.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the textures carefully between sections. The medley's variety comes from instrumental color shifts, so make sure each transition highlights which choir is carrying the melodic line.
- Lean into the rhythmic character of "The Syncopated Clock." The syncopations should feel effortless, not labored; your tempo and ensemble clarity will determine whether it lands as charming or clunky.
- The nearly six-minute runtime benefits from a through-composed sense of narrative. Treat the medley as one arc rather than four separate pieces strung together.
- Use the parts to encourage independence among the second and third violins. Custer writes active accompaniment figures that give them genuine musical purpose.
How to use it
Slot this into a mixed concert when you need a palate cleanser between heavier works or as an opener that puts audiences in a generous mood. At nearly six minutes, it carries real weight on a concert, so it works equally well as your finale if you're programming pops or lighter fare.
Skills your students will build
- Phrasing and shaping of popular-song melodies across different instrumental colors
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated accompaniment figures
- Ensemble balance when melody migrates between sections
- Sustained articulation in lyrical passages ("Serenata")
- Reading and executing parts that prioritize accessibility without sacrificing musicality