The Syncopated Clock

"The Syncopated Clock" is an extremely well-known piece of American "light" classical music, written in 1946 by Leroy Anderson. It was his first popular hit, in an instrumental arrangement. It is staple of the "pops" repertoire, concert bands, and school bands.

Related Topics:
Classical music - 1946 - Leroy Anderson

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Lyrics by Mitchell Parish were added in 1951, but are rarely heard.

Related Topics:
Mitchell Parish - 1951

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The arrangement calls for temple blocks to be used as the sound of the clock which is heard throughout the number. The piece is in 4/4 time; the opening establishes a perfectly regular "tick-tock" accompaniment, 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.

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The lyrics tells of a clock which, instead of going at a normal tick-tock-tick like other clocks, jumps on occasion into a syncopated "tock-tick-tock."

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A recording of "The Syncopated Clock" charted at number twelve while a competing instrumental version by the Boston Pops, the orchestra Anderson worked for, managed a high of only number 28. It has since become a school band favorite because of the arrangement's relative ease and overall fun tone.

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CBS chose "The Syncopated Clock" as the theme for The Late Show in the early 1950s; it would remain as the theme for the next quarter-century.

Related Topics:
CBS - The Late Show - 1950s

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