Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops "Sleigh Ride"

[@nancydemoss2945]

I grew up hearing this on our stereo and on TV. I'd forgotten what Arthur Fielder looked like. Thanks for posting this! It's Christmas day, 2024, and I'm sitting here all alone. I haven't even been able to watch any of my Christmas movies because I'm alone and so damned depressed. But hearing Sleigh Ride helped. Merry Christmas to all!!!!

[@Unentitled54]

Merry Christmas to you... I'm alone too. 🧑‍🎄🎄✝️🎁⛄❤️

[@user-no5hs2wc2t]

I am just like you. Take heart! Have a happy new year!

[@5674Sheri]

I am alone too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It will get better.😊

[@christinehetherington9256]

Merry Christmas, and may the joy of music, and knowing that every day we can look for just one thing that brings us a spark of joy, make the next year a better one for you. God bless

[@thomastarwater6035]

I used to watch Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra every Sunday night with my mom and dad. That gang of musicians always brought it in home. Their rendition of “Sleigh Ride” is one for the ages!

[@janewasson4845]

The best version ever!

[@jamesbullock9209]

This is THE definitive version of "Sleigh Ride". No other comes close to the joy it brings.

[@christywerpy437]

Amen to that!

[@tonyhoward7004]

John Williams comes close but...... agree

[@melaniebruno4632]

@@tonyhoward7004 Leroy Anderson's is the best one.

[@timothyjones3563]

​@@tonyhoward7004❤p

[@rebeccaluna9560]

You’re ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! No other comes close to even a MILLION feet!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@deko2485]

Brought back many memories of our family listening on the old black and white TV. Still my favorite rendition.

[@stevenj9970]

Arthur Fiedler and the Boston pops commissioned all of those short Leroy Anderson wonderful pieces of music, they wouldn't exist without him.....

[@larkjones7432]

The Boston Pops always closed their Christmas Concert with this. The orchestration is so well done, you close your eyes and hear hooves clopping, whips cracking and the horse whining. You forget it’s a song, it’s a sleigh ride!

[@jwills8606]

Whinnying. Sorry - OCD. Can't help myself, but yes - what you said.

[@cyberstate9552]

Thanks to Lee Roy Anderson

[@MrDaiseymay]

Fantastic---a boyhood favourite, especially at Christmas.

[@jenn976]

It’s nice to know that Boston &Fiedler had this tradition. Reminds me of the Vienna Philharmonic and their New Years Day concert with the Blue Danube and afterwards, the Redetzky Waltz at the end of those concerts. Wonderful stuff.

[@autumngirl951]

Wasn't it " Santa Claus is Coming To Town" with Santa coming in from the rear of the auditorium?

[@community1949]

My mom used to play this on our HiFi and it would boom all over house - our Christmases were so magical in the 1950's and 1960's.

[@annhathaway1475]

Mine were too, Nancy. Gosh, how I miss them.

[@mr.ramfan8100]

Me 3- and I do not think it matters a whit that Christmas is not mentioned in this work: This song is tres holiday season😊🎅🤶🎅🎄☃️☃️🎄🎅!!

[@MrDaiseymay]

mine too, despite post-War shortages and restrictions, AND queueing still.

[@vinalboy]

When my parents purchased their stereo console they turned the treble all the way down and the bass all the way up and with the loudness compensation turned on all we heard was boom, boom, boom.

[@rebeccaluna9560]

❤❤❤ Merry Christmas!!!!🎄 🙏🏼

[@HistoryBuff1973]

My Dad loved Arthur Fiedler.... RIP Dad Hope you're feeling fun with Mom in Heaven.

[@bobbrooks6478]

Apparently musicians hated Arthur!

[@calrateriro4005]

The Best rendition of this song Ever!! I would have Loved to experience this in person.

[@thomasmcnerney9745]

Even after all of the decades of playing this song it is still a huge hit at Symphony Hall during the Pop's Christmas Season. The audience ALWAYS goes crazy when it's played.

[@jaygatz4335]

The genius of Leroy Anderson combined with the perfect orchestration. This song defines Christmas.

[@janicejames899]

One of my original favorite Christmas instrumentals

[@pwessie4pwesident941]

I know this song isn't actually about Christmas, but for me personally, it's not officially the Christmas/holiday season until I hear THIS version of Sleigh Ride!

[@maryoliver3868]

Still the very best version of the great Leroy Anderson classic. Love Arthur and the Pops.

[@mr.ramfan8100]

COULD NOT agree more....🎅🎄☃️!!!

[@sheilafreisthler4421]

Played this in concert band in high school! Has always been my favorite version of Sleigh Ride!

[@stephennixon9609]

No one can do sleigh ride like the incomparable Arthur Fiedler directing the Boston Pops Orchestra. This has been my favorite Christmas song since I was a little kid and I've heard different versions over the years with some good and not so good. But when I listen to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops all the others pale in comparison. It's the way Sleigh Ride was meant to be played.

[@jeannieharmon628]

this was actually written for the boston pops!

[@hardlines4]

John Williams did a helluva job on this one too!

[@mydogskips2]

@@hardlines4 Yes, but in my opinion, Fiedler's recording is better.

[@hardlines4]

@@mydogskips2 I agree

[@mydogskips2]

@@hardlines4 One major difference between this and all other recordings: Starting at 0:34 you can hear the prancing horses played by the trumpets(along with the wooden blocks or whatever those percussion instruments are in the background, of course). Whether Leroy Anderson intended that effect or not with the notes he wrote, I don't know, but I have heard no other orchestra/conductor bring that part out so much as Fiedler does here, and to me, it makes a helluva difference. ; )

[@richardghunter6697]

I grew up watching Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops and their rendition of Sleigh Ride is The best one ever recorded. It wouldn't be the holiday season for me without it.

[@kaydee4296]

Gosh, this IS THE classic everyone knows, isn't it!? 🎄🕯🛐🕯🎄

[@dilberta6046]

Should be played all winter til the snow melts. So beautiful.

[@joannadee3565]

This is my favorite Christmas song!

[@luckydave328]

Me too - though it's not actually about Christmas but about going to a winter birthday party ! ("There's a birthday party at the home of Farmer Gray, It'll be the perfect ending of a perfect day...")

[@shinertexas1607]

Yes! Whether orchestra or sung by Amy Grant, etc, I love it!

[@peacemaker4814]

ME TOO!🎅🎅🎅🎄🎄

[@rickgalloway8344]

My late father loved Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops!!! Great memories!! Thank you for posting!!!!🎄🎄🎄💯💯💯

[@michelemarie4128]

The best! I smile every time I hear it.

[@martinhatfield3293]

The definitive version of this classic

[@ckschmidt4854]

This is how my Dad woke us up on Christmas, It was turned up to 11. God Bless Everyone

[@bemore1134]

The Boston Pops gift to Christmas. Is & always will be the #1 version of this classic tune. Magnificent.

[@airpierre2501]

Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops!!! Man, I grew up with this great music. This version of Sleigh Ride is my favorite. Every section is great, but the brass rocks! Well rounded composition.

[@bdavis7981]

A lot of performances of this are too fast and hard. Love this light laid back version that I believe it was meant to be. Anderson did not originally intend it to be just a Christmas tune, but a winter tune. I miss Fiedler. I know he had a 49 year run, but I'm greedy, it wasn't enough. We need him today. His precision, balance and power when called for, was breathtaking.

[@tommurphy4307]

here here

[@mosesberkowitz3298]

Very good point! This laid back version is full of beauty

[@raymondweaver8526]

Love the swing portion

[@rtrivanovic707]

Every version is great from the Ronettes to the New Christy Minstrals to the Ventures .You can’t make a bad rendition of this song. I have 50 versions and I love them all.

[@brucefelger4015]

It is a Sleigh ride, not race.

[@sharonkuhn9275]

Love the song best arrangement ever!!!

[@michaeldelahoyde4802]

Love it so much, as band librarian in high school I passed it out again in June and we played it again.

[@Katalex29]

This is the quintessential version of this beautiful piece of music. Never have I found any better.

[@lindataylor3174]

He graduated Honorary Doctorate degree from FSU in MA: class of 1976 with myself!

[@MarkArnold-b5o]

Long Live Classical Music❤

[@foofoobear66]

I had just had to listen to this 3 times.....I love this arrangement...Gives me such a happy feeling!!!!!

[@tommurphy4307]

i had to listen to it 10 times just to get it to make sense! why does he whip the poor horse at the end -it did git him there, didn't it??

[@davidrobbio9816]

Another instrumental you might like is….”That Happy Feeling” by Burt Kempfert …

[@jimmyt9345]

@@tommurphy4307 the horse is not being whipped, the whip is just cracked or snapped to get their attention. The whip never touches the horse. That always bothered me as a kid until I asked dad and he explained it. Happy Holidays!

[@MrGGPRI]

All time best rendition-- the standard by which all others are judged; hats off Arthur (RIP)and Boston Pops ...

[@dagnelpaula1]

Best version of this, hands down!

[@janetshapiro4666]

Love this song. Love the Boston Pops. Love Arthur Fiedler and all conductors who followed him in conducting theBoston Pops.

[@tomasinebeard6867]

My favorite version ❤

[@michaelclark6865]

I've always loved this wonderful Christmas Song!!!!

[@christywerpy437]

Thank you for the upload of this piece. So wonderful to hear it played with emotion. That was Arthur forte. He's composing in heaven now.

[@robinhoodjr1]

He was my Grandfather's cousin. I dig that. Great stuff. My Mom played it all the time around now. I'm carrying on the tradition:)

[@faithgarcia335]

I loved Arthur F. Saw him or tried to whenever he was in Springfield MA

[@bethbartlett5692]

I saw the Keith Lockhart and Boston Pops in Law Vegas, in 1996. I enjoyed them so, they inspire Positive Energy. Merry Christmas Everyone!

[@mr.ramfan8100]

Lucky you😄🎄☃️☃️

[@nncyby]

Perfection! My absolute favorite Christmas carol!!!

[@monikahack-primeau7548]

My favourite Christmas instrumental ❤

[@lynnkanerva4519]

1:53 - 2:08 Love the reindeer! This is one of my all time favorites.

[@cesarsalvestro2766]

WONDERFUL ... MASTERPIECE FROM LEROY ANDERSON ... THIS MUSIC MEANS CHRISTMAS ... JUST THAT !!!

[@mariellenandrosko7963]

Never get tired of this!

[@jessicakratzer5845]

Awesome! I could listen to Christmas music all year!!!! 😁😁😁

[@mr.ramfan8100]

I hear 😁🤶🎅🎅☃️☃️🎄🎄🎅 that!!!

[@billgish3424]

We played this every Christmas when I was in the high school band. Enjoyed playing it, but it was difficult to play. My favorite secular Christmas song.

[@mydogskips2]

One of the saddest and most frustrating days of my life was when I was in high school band 9th grade and they passed this music out, I took it home and struggled with it because it was only my second year playing the clarinet, but after a few days I did make some progress. Well, when I was finally feeling fairly good about things I went back to class one day and we were told we had to turn the music in and that it was only for the upperclassmen to play, or something like that; I was so disappointed because it was my favorite piece. I guess as a consolation we got to play Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival, we played it every year, and it was challenging too, but it never had the same charm as the forbidden Sleigh Ride did for me. Well, the experience hurt me so much that I made a point later in my life to go and get the full orchestral version, or at least a string arrangement for the work, and I also took up piano and got the piano music. Well, eventually I was able to piece everything together and I know the music pretty well by heart these days. But most importantly, I guess I should also mention that I did get a chance to play the piece with my H.S. band a couple years later in my Junior year, and while I cannot quite remember it, I think it went well, and I did play the piece a lot better than I did as a freshman.

[@laus7504]

My favorite Christmas song and my favorite version!

[@laus7504]

My favorite part is around 2:00 when the brass play the melody! Edited it because I'm a dumbass and was all wrong as to the timing. Merry Christmas, everyone! Please enjoy yourselves!

[@MaritimeFox]

Same here. It's got a Gershwin-Esque feel about it. Reminds me of a snowy New York scene.

[@chuckschafer942]

@@laus7504 I LIKE THE TRUMPET INTERLUDE AT THE END

[@skunkygrogan6956]

Best version by far of this classic, mention of Christmas or not🎅🤶☃️☃️🎅🤶☃️

[@mr.ramfan8100]

BEST instrumental version, by far, of this classic... love the background for this video!☃️☃️🎄

[@cellogirl11rw55]

Just about the pace of a horse's extended trot. Perfect!

[@dougarters2691]

Our high school band played this piece at the Christmas concert. Long time ago.

[@gailwebb9619]

This song done by The Boston Pops is Christmas to me!

[@judithspotts3018]

Perfect! Uplifting! Beautiful!

[@markherron1407]

Happy Birthday to the Late Arthur Fiedler conductor of Boston Pops his Birth Card is Ace of Club Rest in Peace ☮️🕊️ Merry Christmas ⛄🎄 Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@Shawn-mo6dh]

This gives me the Christmas filling

[@DFSelkirk]

I loved watching Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops on the local PBS station back in the 1970's.

[@ckschmidt4854]

By Dad would BLAST this song on Christmas morning. I love this song..............

[@lindaweilburg6428]

Some rendition of this beautiful song are too fast, Artur's is just right and I love him and miss this wonderful talented and sensitive man.

[@olinwilliams]

Having nothing to do with Christmas whatsoever, it has become a Christmas classic! I celebration of winter

[@koaya730]

Did you know my Great Grandfather not only knew Leroy Anderson, ( The original Composer ) But they were also friends? I did not know that until just today!!

[@davidrobbio9816]

Well now you know…thanks for sharing that comment

[@kinghah69]

Love this rendition.

[@carolynirelan2943]

My favorite.The best I have heard!

[@coloneljawoof6832]

Love this song version.

[@raymondweaver8526]

That song was fun to play as a trumpet player

[@robertgift]

*LEROY ANDERSON* should first be named. He composed this wonderful work. Well done, Bob Barry, providing the delightful pictures! Thank you.

[@alger3041]

Yes, that is indeed true.

[@alger3041]

Let me further add to this that during the late 40's and early 50's, Leroy Anderson was a staff arranger for the Boston Pops, and that orchestra under Arthur Fiedler introduced many of his original works. But it his arrangements of popular standards, exemplified in such works as the medleys from "South Pacific," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Kiss Me Kate," "Brigadoon," "Carousel," "Girl Crazy," the Richard Rodgers Waltz Medley (all of which should be credited to Leroy Anderson ahead of those who merely bang out the tunes with one finger), as well as the Irish Suite and Scottish Suite fragment. These all show his essential musicianship far more profoundly than the short novelty numbers that he composed, although there are undoubted gems among these as well. There are even arrangements as presented by the Boston Pops in the late 40's which are clear enhancements of recordings they originally made back in the 30's, and although Leroy Anderson never received credit for those enhancements, the internal elements of style, harmonies, orchestration, etc., are too similar to what we know is Anderson's to credit them otherwise. The selections I am thinking of are "Jalousie" and "The Continental."

[@robertgift]

***** Thank you!

[@georgsufraz6664]

best christmas song!!!!!

[@jamescombs8316]

Now, it's Christmas!!

[@MrGarfield4]

Got a chance to play under Arthur Fiedler during my college days in a wind ensemble. Great guy to play for, although, at that point he was getting on in years. He frequently got lost and his conducting pattern rapidly turned into a circle. Somehow we got to the double bar at the end of the piece together. However, he was a beloved icon.

[@jillsusong7550]

Love this!

[@juanmeza65]

the best ever!!!

[@jtchaos1]

Can listen to all year round!

[@BobBarry4]

Me too!

[@bruceschwartz2609]

Miss the fresh falling snow

[@susanritchie8928]

One of the best, treasure!

[@TypesALot]

This is the version we listened to at home when I was a kid, except I kept thinking his name was Arthur Treacher...seafood guy!

[@ShirleyArleneGray1935]

One of our granddaughters used to say, every time the Boston Pops came, on the TV, "There's Grandpa!" We loved them, and John Williams, as their Conductor, later.

[@eisenjeisen6262]

Thank you for this upload, and i remember this back in Christmas of 1959 how much i loved this music and this is a beautiful version of "Sleigh Ride"

[@christinataylor6572]

To me it isn’t Christmas until this song is played and this Version. It’s just Beautiful ……. ♥️🎶🎄🥀🎄🎶♥️🥰⛄️🤗Chris ,🎄⛄️🎄🎁

[@19LondBuch72]

This song always makes me think of Christmas.

[@Samtheman85844]

The best version of "Sleigh Ride" .

[@moonlightfitz]

Amazing 🙌

[@user-no5hs2wc2t]

I love Fiedler! He loved women and fires and fire trucks and he was the maestro!

[@jpstenino]

This is my favorite for hearing the inner voicing &.. orchestration

[@lidiasilmahernandez5689]

LEROY ANDERSON GRAN COMPOSITOR INSPIRACIÓN ENORME EN CADA UNA DE SUS COMPOSICIONES Y DESDE LUEGO ESTA GIGANTESCA ORQUESTA DIRIGIDA POR FIEDLER HICIERON LAS DELICIAS DE PERSONAS DE CUALQUIER EDAD. GRACIAS POR SUBIR ESTA MÚSICA TAN ESQUICITA

[@kestnerjerri28]

Forever Fiedler! 💖

[@smr61754]

Every time I hear this I am reminded of the smell of sweet potato crunch from the Christmas dinner table. Best rendition of this arrangement!

[@jcmolero71]

I had the 1959 version

[@Zzsmuf]

R.I.P. Maestro Fiedler

[@JerriBerriBoBerri]

This is a forever.❤

[@Dulcimertunes]

My favorite secular winter song!

[@nenblom]

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[@youarerightboss]

Best version.

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

Finally sleigh ride with sleigh bells

[@markydwang]

1:10 orchestra is the New York Philharmonic, not the Boston Pops. Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow and Sheryl Staples lead the first violin section.

[@glorialaponsie1142]

Oh tje memories this song stirs up. Classic

[@jbro3196]

0:28 Fun Fact: The hotel in tbe background is The Stanley Hotel in Colorado where Stephen King wrote The Shining.

[@annmorrill5707]

No. It's the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH.

[@josiespringfield4808]

Oh My God!! Love this video

[@Susie196921]

Peace on Earth - Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!

[@stevemulwitz8683]

THANKS SUSIE AND IS THAT YOUR PHONE NUMBER!

[@shannonbowman5990]

Beautiful! 😊❤