Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Secretaries day Song - Leroy Anderson "the Typewriter" a variation of a Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach composition

This morning on Klara, the classical radiostation of Flanders (www.klara.be) "the Typewriter" was played. Rather unusual, since it's neither Secretaries Day (18/04/2013), nor "Easy listening hour"...

One of the listeners, Dries Ceupens (spelling?)  pointed out that the theme for Anderson's typewriter is a variation of the theme from one of Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach compositions. Listen to part 3 of the below Allegro. The typewriter is admittedly in a different key but very recognizably reusing the theme.


  • The typewriter (Leroy Anderson) BBC Concert Orchestra o.l.v. Leonard Slatkin - Naxos 8.559357
  • Allegro uit Concerto in Es voor orgel, strijkers en continuo (Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach) Olivier Vernet, orgel; Orchestre d'Auvergne o.l.v. Arie van Beek - Ligia Digital 0104073-99

  • The typewriter sound in the orchestra is made by a special "typewriter" instrument with only working 2 keys producing each a different sound.
    Some background:
    • Anderson is an American composer, Swedish parents
    • He mastered 6 languages (all scandinavian languages, french and english) 
    • Studied music on the Harvard School of Music (a.o. with George Enescu) 
    • Light classical compositions and one of them even reached top of the bill the charts (Blue Tango)
    • Has a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" 

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