“Did you know the idea for one of the most ubiquitous Christmas songs actually was sparked during a 1946 heat wave? That would be ‘Sleigh Ride,’ which will be featured in the Lake County Symphony Orchestra’s annual ‘Welcome Christmas!’ concert Dec. 18,” writes Jen Banowetz in Wednesday’s (12/8) Lake County News-Sun (Illinois). “Whether leaning more classical or more popular, the orchestra serves up a fresh holiday concert each year, sometimes mostly carols, sometimes secular gems. ‘This year is a celebration of America’s beloved grandfather of orchestral pops music—Leroy Anderson—of “Sleigh Ride” fame,’ [Music Director Ron] Arden said…. ‘Anderson wrote amazing and endearing small “chestnuts” for orchestra and also larger works like “Christmas Festival,” which we will do again this year with the audience singing along…. [Anderson’s] three wonderful “Carol Suites” for the major instrument families— winds, strings and brass … are hardly done or heard, and that is really too bad.… Anderson writes very well for each family and truly understands the colors available,’ Arden said.… The orchestra’s first concert of 2022 is … slated for … Feb. 26.”
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