Toyland

Victor Herbert (1859–1924)

Victor Herbert was born in Vienna and came to the U.S. with his opera-singer wife in 1886. He started out as a cellist and ended up writing hundreds of compositions. I have a sweet spot for many of his songs. His music fell out of favor after the World War I, when jazz became popular—his work being about as non-jazz as you can get. “Toyland” is from his third operetta and first big hit, Babes In Toyland. Additionally, he was one of the founders of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).