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.
Aquarius
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
Aquarius! Aquarius!
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or decisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius! Aquarius!
The lyrics to Mantovani's "Aquarius" are highly symbolic and speak to the cultural, spiritual, and social revolutions of the 1960s. In astrology, the Seventh House is associated with relationships and partnerships, while Jupiter aligning with Mars is seen as an auspicious event for progress and positive change. The lyrics suggest that this alignment will bring about peace and love on a cosmic scale, guiding the planets and steering the stars towards harmony and unity.
The repetition of the phrase "Age of Aquarius" emphasizes the idea that this event heralds a new era of collective consciousness, characterized by "harmony and understanding" and "sympathy and trust abounding." The song suggests that this emerging age will be marked by the dismantling of traditional power structures and social norms, such as "falsehoods or derisions," and replaced with a utopian vision of "golden living dreams" and "mystic crystal revelation."
Line by Line Meaning
When the moon is in the Seventh House
When the moon is in the astrological sign of Libra
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
And the planets Jupiter and Mars align in the sky
Then peace will guide the planets
Then a sense of harmony and tranquility will control the movements of the celestial bodies
And love will steer the stars
And an overwhelming force of love will control the path of the stars
This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
This is the start of a new era in astrology, the Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius
This new era is the age of Aquarius, the sign that represents renewal and hope
Aquarius! Aquarius!
Repetition of the name of the astrological sign, Aquarius
Harmony and understanding
A sense of cooperation and empathy among people
Sympathy and trust abounding
People will be more compassionate and have a greater sense of faith in one another
No more falsehoods or derisions
There will be an end to lies and mockery among people
Golden living dreams of visions
People will have positive and uplifting dreams and aspirations
Mystic crystal revelation
An unexplained, almost supernatural realization or discovery
And the mind's true liberation
People will experience a freedom in thought and expression that was previously unattainable
Aquarius! Aquarius!
Repetition of the name of the astrological sign, Aquarius
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt MacDermot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind