He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
Love is a Many Splendoured Thing
Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
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It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Frank Chacksfield's song "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" likens love to a beautiful and rare April rose that only blooms in the early spring. The song suggests that love is both a natural impulse and a fundamental reason to live, showcasing its importance as an emotion that adds meaning to life.
The song also suggests that love brings joy and elevation to individuals, as it makes a man feel like a king in comparison to gold. The song then describes a scene of two lovers sharing a moment of intimacy on a high, windy hill in the morning mist. The encounter of the two lovers is portrayed as a moment that stood out from the world as it was at that moment.
The song illustrates how love has a powerful impact on both an individual and the world around them. It described how love can transform a person's life, leaving them filled with a joyous feeling previously unknown in their life. The line "Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing" summarizes this feeling which is caused by the presence of true love in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is a many splendored thing
Love comes in so many forms and holds within itself many beautiful qualities
It's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is as rare and delicate as the April rose that blooms only for a short time each year
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
Love is a natural force that gives us a purpose to live and brings meaning to our lives
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Love is the prize that makes a man feel powerful and worthy, like a king with a golden crown
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
A beautiful moment in nature, a location that is magical and remote, full of potential for romance and discovery
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
The power of love can stop time, allowing two people to connect fully and become lost in the moment
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Love has the power to awaken the senses and fill us with joy and inspiration
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Reiteration of the statement that love is beautiful and can manifest in many different forms
Writer(s): Paul Webster, Sammy Fain
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.