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.
Autumn Leaves
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The first stanza of the song "Autumn Leaves" by Mantovani talks about the arrival of autumn, with leaves falling and drifting by the window. The autumn leaves are represented as red and gold, symbolizing the changing colors of the season. The singer reminisces about summer kisses and holding hands with a loved one, which now seems like a distant memory. The second stanza describes the longing for the lost love as the days grow long and winter approaches. The singer misses the loved one the most during the autumn season, which resonates with the theme of change and transformation that autumn brings.
The final stanza is in French, and Mantovani's version does not have any lyrics, but the French lyrics translate to, "It's a song that resembles us. You loved me, and I loved you. We lived together, both of us. But life separates those who love each other. Softly and without making a sound, the sea erases on the sand the footprints of the separated lovers." This verse emphasizes the heartbreak of separating from a loved one and how memories slowly fade away with time.
Overall, the song accurately portrays the bittersweet feelings associated with autumn, where the beauty of nature is intertwined with the pain of loss and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves fall outside as I watch them through the window.
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves are painted with hues of red and gold.
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I reminisce about the summer love that we shared.
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I miss holding your sun-kissed hands that were once warm.
Since you went away the days grow long
The days seem longer and more arduous since you left.
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
Winter is approaching and I will soon hear its melancholic tune.
But I miss you most of all my darling
Of all the things that I miss, I miss you the most.
When autumn leaves start to fall
My longing for you is deepest when autumn leaves fall.
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
This song is like us.
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you.
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together.
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you.
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life separates those who love each other.
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Slowly, without any noise.
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the sea erases the footprints of separated lovers on the sand.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Springstoff GmbH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jacques Prevert, Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@generichardlangelo379
My dad listen lots of his music. At that time he bought so many records of Mantovani and his orchestra. My dad said, his orchestra has the most rich violinist that always stands out from the back ground. We are an Oriental family, and yet my dad was so amazed with his orchestra. And now I’m 72 yrs old, yet I never heard an orchestra that is so rich in violins back ground, Montovani and his orchestra.
@AnnunzioMantovani
Thank you for being part of the Mantovani and his Orchestra network of historic music ! We look forward to providing more entertainment in the near future ! Thank you for Subscribing !
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@juliusyapp2196
I delve in his music until today since my first in 1963.
@tolitzademla530
...misty eyed while listening these one of sooo many romantic memorable Mantovani orchestra music----seldom and only in our radio did i hear such music in my childhood years that it attracts me that till now----i am 73 year old yet my feelings to such musics touches my heart that tears streak down my face...
...i love and like to listen to most orchestra musics...
thank you YouTube...
@momocolasa8068
Simply beautiful melody, just close your eyes and see the autumn flowers fall from the tree, just as the passing of the years close the sweet dreams of our youth
@antonfos
Hmmm, what can one say; splendid, wonderful, enchanting, a piece of music that brings beautiful memories of past joy, love and romance to mind. Wonderful !
@magdakotelesch2647
Wunderbare Musik, weckt alte schöne, aber schmerzhafte Erinnerungen. Danke für diese Erlebnis.
@godfreybirch3851
This music aways reminds me of my dear father back in the 1950s, before he died.
Lovely times.
@coastsouljah
This was first song I heard in 2008. I fell in love. GOD bless you Mr mantovani.
@saimafaisal4126
So beautiful
Rightly said A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Whenever I listen to this soothing melody i fall in love with it
Thank you so much
Really a feast for the ears !!!!!!!