He was also musical director for a large number of musicals and other plays, including ones by Noel Coward. After the war, he concentrated on recording, and eventually gave up live performance altogether. He worked with arranger and composer Ronnie Binge, who developed the "cascading strings" sound (also known as the "Mantovani sound").[citation needed] His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction. In 1952 Binge ceased to arrange for Mantovani, but his distinctive sound remained.
He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, and then London Records. He recorded over 50 albums on that label, many of which were top-40 hits. These included Song from Moulin Rouge and Cara Mia, which reached No. 1 in Britain in 1953 and 1954, respectively. The latter was also Mantovani's first U.S. Top Ten hit.
In the United States, between 1955 and 1972, he released over 40 albums with 27 reaching the Top 40 and 11 the Top Ten. His biggest success was with the album Film Encores, which made it to No. 1 in 1957. Similarly, Mantovani Plays Music From 'Exodus' and Other Great Themes made it to No. 2 in 1961 and sold over one million albums.
In 1959, Mantovani starred in his own syndicated television series, Mantovani, which was produced in England and which aired in the United States. 39 episodes were filmed.[1]
Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.[citation needed]
[edit] Music style and influences
The cascading strings technique developed by Binge became Mantovani's hallmark in such hits arranged by Binge as "Charmaine". Binge developed this technique to replicate the echo experienced in venues such as cathedrals by arrangement alone, in an echo-free surrounding.
Author Joseph Lanza describes Mantovani's string arrangements as the most "rich and mellifluous" of the emerging light music style during the early 1950s. He stated that Mantovani was a leader in the use of new studio technologies to "create sound tapestries with innumerable strings", and that "the sustained hum of Mantovani's reverberated violins produced a sonic vaporizer foreshadowing the synthesizer harmonics of space music."[2]
In 1958 Mantovani and his family bought a holiday home in Bournemouth in Durley Chine Road, then in 1961 acquired a new property in Burton Road (now part of Poole). He moved, finally, to a new home in Martello Road in Poole.
Since his death at a care home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1980, his music has enjoyed a minor revival,[citation needed] with much of his catalogue reappearing on CD and an orchestra bearing his name performing concert tours. The saleability of the Mantovani name is underscored by new recordings being made as the Mantovani Orchestra. Unfortunately[neutrality is disputed], a large number of CDs are also available of unauthorized recordings, billed as Mantovani or Mantovani Orchestra.[citation needed] There have also been CDs released under the Mantovani name of recordings made by others while Mantovani was still alive.[citation needed] Thus, consumers of this music are advised to familiarize themselves with the conductor's discography. Material with the London Records logo on it is apt to be genuine Mantovani, while other recordings are less likely to be actual Mantovani recordings.[citation needed]
The continued popularity of Mantovani's music is evident by the number of original albums which are being released, on labels such as Dutton-Vocalion, and by the many compilations available throughout the world. In 2008, as a result of successful, ongoing CD sales, amongst other contributing factors, the Mantovani Orchestra (performing from the original scores) was recreated for a tremendously successful historical tribute concert, sponsored by Bentley Motors, held at the Lighthouse, in Poole, England, on 27 January, conducted by Sam Newgarth, MBE. Much critical acclaim has led to the planning of a second concert, to take place in January 2009, at the same venue. There are four Mantovani websites in honour of the maestro, a written biography by Colin MacKenzie entitled Mantovani - A Lifetime In Music (ISBN 1-905226-19-5). For further information, please visit http://www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm; http://members3.jcom.home.ne.jp/torumonty; http://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk (re. ticket sales for 31 January 2009). A ten CD set 'The Wonderful World of Mantovani' was released in November 2008 in Japan (a link to the website in Japan may be found by visiting www.hallowquest.com/mantiindex.htm), featuring many rare tracks which have never been released on CD before, in a superbly remastered format, and, following the success of the Mantovani Orchestra's 2008 concert, 'More MANTOVANI Magic' took place at Lighthouse in Poole, England, on 31 January 2009, again conducted by maestro Sam Newgarth MBE. The concert was sponsored by Poole Audi, and also with the generous support of Richard Cox.
Adeste Fideles
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! He abhors not the Virgin's womb,
Very God,
Begotten, not created.
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
See how the shepherds
Summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze!
We, too, will thither
Bend our hearts' oblations.
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Lo, star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold and myrrh,
We to the Christ-child
Bring our hearts' oblations
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Child, for us sinners,
Poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace
Thee with love and awe,
Who would not love Thee,
Loving us so dearly?
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
"Glory to God,
In the highest!"
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given,
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
The song "Adeste Fideles" or "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is a traditional Christmas carol that invites all to come and adore Christ the Lord. The opening lyrics call for all to come, faithful and joyful, to Bethlehem, to witness the birth of the King of Angels. The song is a celebration of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, and the lyrics reflect the wonder and awe that people experienced upon witnessing this event.
The song speaks of the divinity of Christ and his miraculous birth, emphasizing that he is the God of God, Light of Light, and was begotten, not created. The song also highlights the shepherds summoned to his cradle and the magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The final stanza is a call to all to sing in exultation, giving glory to God in the highest.
Overall, "Adeste Fideles" is a joyful song that inspires faith and encourages all to come and adore Christ. The song is a timeless reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and has been used in churches and homes around the world to celebrate this important holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, everyone who believes, feeling happy and triumphant, come to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels! O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Come and see Him, the King of Angels who is born! Let's all worship Him, Christ the Lord!
God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin's womb, Very God, Begotten, not created.
He is God of God, Light of Light, who was not disgusted by the Virgin's womb, truly God, not created but begotten.
See how the shepherds Summoned to His cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze! We, too, will thither Bend our hearts' oblations.
See how the shepherds are gathered around His crib, having left their flocks to come closer and gaze! We will also come and offer our hearts' devotion.
Lo, star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring, Offer Him incense, gold and myrrh, We to the Christ-child Bring our hearts' oblations
Behold, the Magi led by the star, adoring Christ, bringing Him incense, gold, and myrrh. We also come to offer our hearts' devotion to the Christ-child.
Child, for us sinners, Poor and in the manger, Fain we embrace Thee with love and awe, Who would not love Thee, Loving us so dearly?
Child, born for us sinners, poor and in the manger, we eagerly embrace You with love and reverence because who wouldn't love You, when You love us so deeply?
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! "Glory to God, In the highest!"
Sing, oh choirs of angels, sing joyfully! All citizens of heaven, sing in praise of God, saying "Glory to God in the highest!"
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given, Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing!
Yes, Lord, we greet You, born on this happy morning! Jesus, You deserve all the glory, You are the Word of the Father who appears in the flesh!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDITH BERGDAHL, TRADITIONAL, NAT COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind