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6 unusual facts about Boston Pops Orchestra


Boston Pops Orchestra

In 1881, Henry Lee Higginson, the founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, wrote of his wish to present in Boston "concerts of a lighter kind of music."

Of the many musical pieces created for the orchestra, the Pops' most identifiable works were the colorful novelty numbers composed by Fiedler's close friend Leroy Anderson, including "Sleigh Ride", "The Typewriter" and many others.

Also during Fiedler's tenure, the Pops and local public television station WGBH developed a series of weekly televised broadcasts recorded during the Pops' regular season in Symphony Hall, Evening at Pops.

Conte Forum

It is the site of the annual "Pops-on-the-Heights" during the annual Parents' Weekend in the fall, a gala concert featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra which raises over $1.5 million for BC's academic scholarship fund.

Jordan Rich

Because of this, Rich is heard on thousands of voice overs, including The Boston Pops, Sullivan Tire and KB Toys.

North Hills High School

Guest conductors through the years have included, Dr. William Revelli, Dr. Richard Strange, Dr.James Neilson, Dr. James Dunlop (PSU), Mr. Vaclav Nelhybel and in March 1973, Arthur Fiedler, Director of the Boston Pops Orchestra.


Berj Zamkochian

In 1957, at the age of 27, he was appointed organist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra.

Chicken Reel

"Chicken Reel" was arranged for symphony orchestra by Leroy Anderson; his arrangement was recorded by the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1992.

George Greeley

In addition to his film and TV work, Greeley performed as a piano soloist and guest conductor in Australia, Canada, Korea, and Brazil, and also performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Jesús Maria Sanromá

Sanromá worked with various composers, such as Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev, but it was the future conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra (a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra), Arthur Fiedler, with whom he was to develop an artistic relationship that was to last for many years.

Kathryn Selby

These include the Philadelphia Orchestra (she was a founding member of its Chamber Group), Boston Pops Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

Max Schönherr

A well-known 1963 LP from RCA Victor (Dynagroove LSC-2677) featuring Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra entitled Concert in the Park, features a Wedding March not found on HMV C. 2905; whilst that recording contains two dances not recorded on the RCA LP.

Robert F. Bradford

Composer Leroy Anderson, who penned such classics as "Sleigh Ride" and "Blue Tango", wrote a piece entitled "Governor Bradford March" that was premiered on July 6, 1948 at a concert by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler.

Until It's Time for You to Go

Besides The Four Pennies, Diamond and Presley, it has been covered by Jim Croce, Glen Campbell, Cher, Nancy Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Shirley Bassey, Barbra Streisand, Bette Davis, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Roberta Flack, New Birth, Paul Anka, Eddy Arnold, Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, Bobby Darin, Helen Reddy, Andy Williams, Joe Longthorne and Françoise Hardy.

Willis Page

He was also the associate conductor in Buffalo, New York, where he conducted three quarters of all concerts and has been guest conductor for several orchestras including the Boston Pops Orchestra (seven times), Denver, St Louis, Rochester, Hartford, Muncie, Yomiuri, Toronto and Jerusalem.

After the War, he returned to the BSO where he became Assistant Principal; he was also principal bass for Arthur Fiedler’s Boston Pops Orchestra.


see also

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

They can also be heard on the RCA Victor disc "A Splash of Pops", as well as on three Christmas albums — "Joy to the World" on Sony Classical and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on Philips, both with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra, and "Holiday Pops" on RCA Victor with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Originally formed for performances at the BSO's summer home at the behest of the BSO's conductor designate Seiji Ozawa, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus is the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra year-round, performing in Boston, New York and Tanglewood.