The Best of Leroy Anderson: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This medley captures Anderson's hallmark wit and craftsmanship in a single performance that keeps young bands engaged from start to finish. Douglas Wagner's arrangement distributes the melodic highlights generously across the ensemble, ensuring every section gets meaningful material and sufficient rest. The result is a crowd-pleasing program piece that teaches musical style and phrasing without requiring technical virtuosity.

Anderson's music sparkles with humor and warmth. This medley glides from whimsical character pieces to lyrical moments with effortless style, creating a program that feels both refined and thoroughly enjoyable. The orchestration has a chamber-like clarity that lets each instrument be heard and valued.

This is ideal for Grade 2 concert bands seeking a repertoire piece that entertains without overwhelming. Young musicians in their first or second year of band experience will find approachable ranges, clear rhythms, and the confidence boost that comes from playing recognizable, well-crafted music.

• Maintain the character distinction between pieces. Each tune has its own personality; "Plink! Plank! Plunk!" bounces playfully while "Forgotten Dreams" calls for singing legato. Rehearse sections individually first, then build awareness of the tonal shifts.
• Balance accompaniment parts carefully in the woodwind textures. Anderson's orchestration depends on clean inner-voice writing, so clarinet and saxophone lines need clarity without overwhelming the melodic line.
• Shape the transitions between tunes to feel inevitable rather than abrupt. The through-played structure rewards a conductor who thinks about phrase architecture across the medley's 4:45 arc.
• Trust the syncopation in "The Syncopated Clock" and "Blue Tango." These aren't meant to sound stiff or metronomic; encourage the rhythm section to swing slightly and let the ensemble feel the lift.

Program this as a centerpiece for a pops concert or as the anchor of a light-music set alongside other accessible classics. It works beautifully as a contrast to heavier or more contemporary pieces, and its 4:45 length makes it substantial enough to anchor a program segment without consuming excessive rehearsal time. Consider pairing it with one or two other Anderson titles for a retrospective, or use it to close a concert on a note of pure musical joy.

• Phrasing and musical character within and across multiple melodic ideas
• Rhythmic accuracy in syncopated passages
• Balance and blend in multi-textured accompaniment writing
• Ensemble musicianship through generous distribution of melodic responsibility
• Reading shifting keys and styles within a continuous performance