Since he worked hard to develop this special creativity he disliked the notion of inspiration. To him, his music was the result of hard work, of constantly looking for new ideas and throwing out the ones that did not work. His music did not happen because of some easily thought of idea that quickly blossomed into a completed piece.

He valued his ability to discriminate. It helped him to select ideas and to develop them.

While I understand how he came to compose music, none the less I know that there is something inspired in the way that he did it. My use of this word does not imply that it was easy for him to write his music. He re-wrote Fiddle-Faddle four times before he was satisfied with the work. To me his music is inspired because of its ability to lift the human spirit.

Most people are used to serious music that accomplishes this important task in our lives and in our civilization. What some people miss is the ability of light-hearted music, like the music of Leroy Anderson, to fulfill this role.

There are some significant obvious events and people that make this world a special place, but there are far more events and people that in a quiet and modest way add to the fabric of life and enhance our appreciation of it. I am proud to say that my father's music is one of them."