Kostelanetz was known for arranging and recording light classical music pieces for mass audiences, as well as orchestral versions of songs and Broadway show tunes. He made numerous recordings over the course of his career, which had sales of over 50 million and became staples of Beautiful Music radio stations.[citation needed] For many years, Kostelanetz also conducted the New York Philharmonic in pops concerts and recordings, in which they were billed as "Andre Kostelanetz and His Orchestra".
Kostelanetz is best known to modern audiences for a series of easy listening instrumental albums on Columbia Records from the 1940s until 1980. Kostelanetz actually started making this music before there was a genre called "easy listening", and he continued until after some of his contemporaries, including Mantovani, had stopped recording.
Toward the end of his recording career, his name was more of a brand than a true representation of who actually made the music, because nearly all of his output in the 1970s was arranged by others.[citation needed] Some of the arrangers credited on 1970s Kostelanetz albums include Teo Macero, Torrie Zito, Hank Levy, Luther Henderson, Jack Cortner, Eddie Sauter, Claus Ogerman, Jack Pleis, Tommy Newsom, Harold Wheeler, Bobby Scott, Homer Dennison, James Tyler, Jr., Byron Olson, Dale Oehler, Ben Lanzarone, LaMont Johnson, Wade Marcus, Patrick Williams, Sammy Nestico, Warren Vincent, Dick Hyman, Jorge Calandrelli, James J. Wisner, Al Capps and Don Sebesky.
Kostelanetz's last concert was "A Night in Old Vienna" concert with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the War Memorial Opera House on December 31, 1979.
Sound of Silence
Andre Kostelanetz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
In restless dreams I walked alone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
The lyrics of Andre Kostelanetz's "Sound of Silence" present a vivid picture of the human condition: the idea that we are all trapped in our own isolated worlds, unable to communicate with one another. The singer of the song is reaching out to his old friend, darkness, because he is struggling with the memory of a powerful vision that he experienced while he was sleeping. This vision has left a lasting impact on him, and he feels haunted by it, as if he can still hear its echoes in the “sound of silence.”
The second verse highlights the singer's sense of alienation from society. He describes walking alone through narrow, deserted streets, where the only light comes from a distant streetlamp. Even as he tries to shield himself from the cold and damp weather, he is violently jolted by the sudden appearance of a bright neon light. This is not just a physical shock, but a symbolic one, representing a jarring interruption of the static silence that surrounds him. The third and final verse illustrates the singer's frustration with the people around him, who he sees as being too set in their ways to truly connect with him. He sees their reliance on material possessions - the "neon god" - as a kind of curse, preventing them from understanding the true meaning of words and actions. The final lines of the song, which reference the "words of the prophets," suggest that there are deeper, more spiritual truths to be discovered, but they can only be heard when one lets go of their preconceived notions and opens themselves up to the elusive "sound of silence."
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness, my old friend,
I am addressing the concept of darkness, as a metaphor for troubles and sorrows, which I have become intimately familiar with.
I've come to talk with you again,
I am seeking comfort in the darkness, as it is the only thing that understands me.
Because a vision softly creeping,
I had a vision that appeared to me slowly and gently, without warning or explanation.
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
This vision left an impression or idea in my mind while I was unconscious.
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.
This vision, and its associated emotions or thoughts, continue to exist within my mind and soul, even though it is not visible or tangible.
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
I am describing a dream state where I am wandering through dark and lonely streets, feeling anxious and uneasy.
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.
In this surreal landscape, a bright and jarring neon light suddenly appeared, interrupting the silence and my sense of detachment.
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
Within this bright light, I suddenly became aware of the vast number of people around me.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
Despite the presence of so many people, I realized that they were not truly communicating, but rather just making noise.
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dare
Disturb the sound of silence.
Even though some may be expressing themselves through art, they are still not truly communicating, and nobody wants to break the silence and reveal their vulnerability or deep emotions.
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
I am frustrated by the lack of connection and communication among people, and I see this silence as a negative force that is only growing and spreading.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you."
I am attempting to break through the silence and connect with others, offering my words and assistance to help them see the value and importance of true communication.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence
Despite my efforts, my words fell on deaf ears and were swallowed by the pervasive silence surrounding us all.
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
I observed how people worship and idolize superficial and artificial things, such as neon lights, rather than trying to connect and communicate with each other.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls."
And whisper'd in the sounds of silence.
The neon sign seems to offer a warning or message, stating that true wisdom and understanding can be found in unexpected places, such as graffiti on walls or in the mundane details of everyday life. This message is conveyed through the sounds of silence, which can offer a deeper understanding and connection to the world and the people within it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Francisco José Araújo Costa
on Solitude
André Kostelanetz e sua música é uma raridade inesquecível no universo da música.