Sleigh Ride is a light orchestral work composed by Leroy Anderson. The composer had formed the original idea for the piece during a heat wave in July 1946 and he finished the work in February 1948.
The original recordings of Sleigh Ride were instrumental versions. The lyrics, about riding in a sleigh and other fun activities, were written by Mitchell Parishin 1950. Anderson also made arrangements for wind band and piano.The orchestral version was first recorded by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra. Sleigh Ride was a hit record on RCA Victor Red Seal and has become one of the orchestra's signature songs. In the original orchestral version, the song is noted for the sounds of a horse clip-clopping and a whip used to get the horse moving. In most performances, a percussionist provides these sounds on temple blocks and a slapstick, respectively. Toward the end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of a horse whinnying.
