The Syncopated Clock
Encyclopedia
"The Syncopated Clock" is a piece of light music
by American composer Leroy Anderson
, which has become a feature of the pops orchestra
repertoire.
to guest-conduct the Boston Popular ("Pops") Orchestra during their annual Harvard Night. Anderson wanted to introduce a new work to Fiedler and composed a song about a clock with a syncopated rhythm. The idea of the title reportedly occurred to him before he wrote the music. In a few hours he wrote the music, scored it for orchestra and then mailed it to Symphony Hall in Boston. Fiedler had the orchestra parts copied from the score. Then, with a 3-day pass, Anderson traveled from his home in Arlington, Virginia to Boston where he conducted the premiere on May 28, 1945. Anderson recorded the work for Decca Records
during 1950 with the best musicians selected from various New York orchestras. This was true for all of his recordings for Decca, collected as "Leroy Anderson and his Orchestra." Anderson's "orchestra" was an assemblage of musicians hired by Decca specially for Anderson's recordings.
The album, catalog number
16005, was entered the charts on March 23, 1951 and spent 14 weeks on chart, maximizing at number twelve, while a version credited to the Boston Popular Orchestra itself (released by RCA Victor Records
as catalog number 10-3044) entered on June 1, 1951, spent 2 weeks on the charts, and maximized as number 28.
When "The Syncopated Clock" was recorded during 1950, it was noticed by the producers of a new WCBS-TV program called the "Late Show," a nightly program with a format of old movies that was to be the station's first venture into late night television. The piece was chosen as the theme music for the "Late Show" and that helped publicize Anderson's music. The "Syncopated Clock" was used by the show for the next 25 years, and became a piece that many Americans could readily hum or whistle, even if few would have known the name of its composer.
during 1951 (released by Columbia Records
as catalog number 39328, with the flip side “On Top of Old Smokey”).
It is this version that CBS
(for whose Columbia Records
label Faith recorded) chose to introduce The Late Show -- the late night movie -- on some of its owned-and-operated station
s, most notably WCBS-TV
in New York City
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxeXszFL99k, http://www.tvpmm.com/documents/364.html), and WBBM-TV
in Chicago
.
added rarely-used lyrics:
There was a man like you and me
as simple as a man could ever be
and he was happy as a king
except for one peculiar thing
He had a clock that worked all right,
It worked all right, but not exactly quite;
Instead of going "tick, tock, tick",
The crazy clock went—"tock, tick, tock".
The poor old man just raved and raved, because nobody could say
Why his silly clock behaved that hickory dickory way....
But now a famous man is he,
He owns a public curiosity;
From far and wide the people flock
To hear the syncopated clock
Tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock
There's a zing in the swing of that clock
Tock-a-tick, tock-a-tick
Don't you think it's a marvelous trick?
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling
There's a zong in the bong of that ring
Ling-a-ting, ling-a-ting
Don't you think it's a wonderful thing?
The experts came to hear and see,
But none of them could solve the mystery.
They called professor Einstein too,
He said: "There's nothing I can do"
But soon the fickle human race,
Will find another freak to take its place,
And one fine day the man will hock,
The poor old syncopated clock.
Light music
Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....
by American composer Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson was an American composer of short, light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler...
, which has become a feature of the pops orchestra
Pops orchestra
A pops orchestra is an orchestra that plays popular music and show tunes as well as well-known classical works. Pops orchestras are generally organised in large cities and are distinct from the more "highbrow" symphony or philharmonic orchestras which also may exist in the same city...
repertoire.
Composition
Anderson wrote "The Syncopated Clock" during 1945 while serving with the U.S. Army and assigned as Chief of the Scandinavian Desk of Military Intelligence in Washington. Anderson had been invited by Arthur FiedlerArthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
to guest-conduct the Boston Popular ("Pops") Orchestra during their annual Harvard Night. Anderson wanted to introduce a new work to Fiedler and composed a song about a clock with a syncopated rhythm. The idea of the title reportedly occurred to him before he wrote the music. In a few hours he wrote the music, scored it for orchestra and then mailed it to Symphony Hall in Boston. Fiedler had the orchestra parts copied from the score. Then, with a 3-day pass, Anderson traveled from his home in Arlington, Virginia to Boston where he conducted the premiere on May 28, 1945. Anderson recorded the work for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
during 1950 with the best musicians selected from various New York orchestras. This was true for all of his recordings for Decca, collected as "Leroy Anderson and his Orchestra." Anderson's "orchestra" was an assemblage of musicians hired by Decca specially for Anderson's recordings.
The album, catalog number
Catalog numbering systems for single records
This article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
16005, was entered the charts on March 23, 1951 and spent 14 weeks on chart, maximizing at number twelve, while a version credited to the Boston Popular Orchestra itself (released by RCA Victor Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
as catalog number 10-3044) entered on June 1, 1951, spent 2 weeks on the charts, and maximized as number 28.
When "The Syncopated Clock" was recorded during 1950, it was noticed by the producers of a new WCBS-TV program called the "Late Show," a nightly program with a format of old movies that was to be the station's first venture into late night television. The piece was chosen as the theme music for the "Late Show" and that helped publicize Anderson's music. The "Syncopated Clock" was used by the show for the next 25 years, and became a piece that many Americans could readily hum or whistle, even if few would have known the name of its composer.
Movie theme
Listeners are probably most familiar with the version recorded by Percy FaithPercy Faith
Percy Faith was a Canadian-born American bandleader, orchestrator, composer and conductor, known for his lush arrangements of pop and Christmas standards. He is often credited with creating the "easy listening" or "mood music" format which became staples of American popular music in the 1950s and...
during 1951 (released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog number 39328, with the flip side “On Top of Old Smokey”).
It is this version that CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
(for whose Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label Faith recorded) chose to introduce The Late Show -- the late night movie -- on some of its owned-and-operated station
Owned-and-operated station
In the broadcasting industry , an owned-and-operated station usually refers to a television station or radio station that is owned by the network with which it is associated...
s, most notably WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV
WCBS-TV, channel 2, is the flagship station of the CBS television network, located in New York City. The station's studios are located within the CBS Broadcast Center and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building, both in Midtown Manhattan....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxeXszFL99k, http://www.tvpmm.com/documents/364.html), and WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Structure
The arrangement requires temple blocks to be used as the sound of the clock which is heard throughout the number, except for a brief section in the middle. The piece is in 4/4 time; the opening establishes a perfectly regular "tick-tock" accompaniment, beginning with a roll off the orchestra's staccato strike of an A chord, creating an expectation that it will continue. In the sixth measure, there is an eighth-note rest on the second beat, and two syncopated "ticks" are heard before the "clock" returns to its normal rhythm. As the piece proceeds, the "clock" continues to indulge in brief moments of syncopation. Some are expected by the listener (as the tune repeats the passage in which the first syncopation occurred); others are not, creating a whimsical and comic effect. The song's basic arrangement and comical effect makes it a favourite for school bands.Lyrics
During 1951, Mitchell ParishMitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish was an American lyricist.-Early life:Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky to a Jewish family in Lithuania. His family emigrated to the United States, arriving on February 3, 1901 on the SS Dresden when he was less than a year old...
added rarely-used lyrics:
There was a man like you and me
as simple as a man could ever be
and he was happy as a king
except for one peculiar thing
He had a clock that worked all right,
It worked all right, but not exactly quite;
Instead of going "tick, tock, tick",
The crazy clock went—"tock, tick, tock".
The poor old man just raved and raved, because nobody could say
Why his silly clock behaved that hickory dickory way....
But now a famous man is he,
He owns a public curiosity;
From far and wide the people flock
To hear the syncopated clock
Tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock
There's a zing in the swing of that clock
Tock-a-tick, tock-a-tick
Don't you think it's a marvelous trick?
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling
There's a zong in the bong of that ring
Ling-a-ting, ling-a-ting
Don't you think it's a wonderful thing?
The experts came to hear and see,
But none of them could solve the mystery.
They called professor Einstein too,
He said: "There's nothing I can do"
But soon the fickle human race,
Will find another freak to take its place,
And one fine day the man will hock,
The poor old syncopated clock.
Other recordings
- Eileen Barton (recorded December 19501950 in music-Events:*January 3 – Sam Phillips launches Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.*August – Herbert Howells' Hymnus Paradisi is premiered at the Three Choirs Festival.*Malcolm Sargent becomes chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra....
, released by National RecordsNational RecordsNational Records was a record label that was started in New York by Albert Green in 1945 and lasted till early 1951.Big Joe Turner was signed at the outset and remained until 1947. Billy Eckstine was also a big seller for the label as were The Ravens...
as catalog number 9152, with the flip side “Lock the Barn Door”) - Capitol Symphony Band (released by Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
as catalog number 984, with the flip side “Sleigh RideSleigh Ride"Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person,...
”) - Louis Castelucci (released by Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
1620, with the flip side “Sleigh RideSleigh Ride"Sleigh Ride" is a popular light orchestral piece composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946; he finished the work in February 1948. Lyrics, about a person who would like to ride in a sleigh on a winter's day with another person,...
”) - Ken GriffinKen GriffinKenneth W. "Ken" Griffin was an American organist.-Biography:Griffin was born in Columbia, Missouri. His biggest hit was "You Can't Be True, Dear" , which was first released as an instrumental, and later that year re-released with a vocal by Jerry Wayne dubbed in. Both versions became popular,...
(recorded April 19511951 in music-Events:*January 29 – Nilla Pizzi wins the first annual Sanremo Music Festival with "Grazie dei fiori".*February – The first complete performance of Charles Ives's Second Symphony is given in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.*March – Alan...
, released by Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
39386, with the flip side “Red Sails in the SunsetRed Sails in the Sunset"Red Sails in the Sunset" may refer to:*Red Sails in the Sunset , a 1984 album by Midnight Oil*"Red Sails in the Sunset" , a popular 1935 song recorded by many artists...
”) - Perez PradoPerez PradoDámaso Pérez Prado was a Cuban bandleader, musician , and composer. He is often referred to as the 'King of the Mambo'.His orchestra was the most popular in mambo...
(as "The Syncopated Clock Mambo," 1951) (released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4196, with the flip side “Broadway”) - David RoseDavid RoseDavid Rose was a British-born American songwriter, composer, arranger, pianist, and orchestra leader. His most famous compositions were "The Stripper", "Holiday for Strings", and "Calypso Melody"...
and his orchestra (released by MGM RecordsMGM RecordsMGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
as catalog number 30353, with the flip side “Mask Waltz”) - Ethel SmithEthel SmithEthel Smith may refer to:* Ethel Smith * Ethel Smith -See also:* Ethel Smyth, composer and suffragist Ethel Smith may refer to:* Ethel Smith (organist) (1910-1996)* Ethel Smith (athlete) (1907-1979)-See also:* Ethel Smyth, composer and suffragist Ethel Smith may refer to:* Ethel Smith (organist)...
(Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
catalog number 27583) in 19511951 in music-Events:*January 29 – Nilla Pizzi wins the first annual Sanremo Music Festival with "Grazie dei fiori".*February – The first complete performance of Charles Ives's Second Symphony is given in Carnegie Hall by the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.*March – Alan...
. - The Three SunsThe Three SunsThe Three Suns was an American instrumental pop group, popular in the 1940s and 1950s.The group was formed in 1939 by Al Nevins and Morty Nevins and Artie Dunn , . Their first hit record was "Twilight Time", which was written by the band along with Buck Ram. "Twilight Time" sold over four million...
(released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4090, with the flip side “March of the Cards”) - Rosemary ClooneyRosemary ClooneyRosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
, as a track on a 4-record compilation of children's music released by Columbia Records - On an extended-play 45 RPM record (Peter Pan Records, aimed at children); on the same side was "Grandfather's Clock", and on the flip side were "Arkansas Traveler" and "Red River Valley". This version of "Syncopated Clock" did have a vocal, using the lyrics listed above.