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.
How Are Things In Glocca Morra
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please
How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
How are things in Glocca Mora?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
The song "How are things in Glocca Morra?" by Mantovani is a lyrical and nostalgic tune that conveys the longing and affection of a person who is far away from the land they love. The lyrics of the song express the hope and anticipation of the singer for news from home, conveyed through the signs of nature - the Londonderry bird and the River Shanon breeze. The song expresses a yearning for a simpler life and a return to the cherished memories of the past.
The song's refrain, "How are things in Glocca Morra?" refers to a fictitious place that symbolizes the singer's homeland. The lyrics ask if the little brook still leaps there, if the willow tree still weeps there, and if the lassie with the twinkling eye still comes smiling by, which shows the singer's fondness for the familiar places and faces of home. The song conveys a mood that is both melancholic and uplifting, with a sense of tender longing for the peace and serenity of the past.
Overall, the song is a sentimental journey that takes the listener on a lyrical pilgrimage to the land of the singer's heart, filled with images of beauty and nostalgia. It is a touching and evocative song that speaks to the heart of anyone who has ever been far away from home, longing for the familiar sights and sounds of their homeland.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear a bird, Londonderry bird,
I can hear a bird singing, and I believe it might be bringing me some good news. The bird is from Londonderry.
It well may be he's bringing me a cheering word.
It is possible that the bird is carrying some cheerful message for me.
I hear a breeze, a River Shanon breeze,
I can hear a breeze blowing from River Shanon, and it might have followed me from across the seas.
It well may be it's followed me across the seas.
It is possible that the breeze blowing from River Shanon has followed me across the seas.
Then tell me please
I am requesting information from someone.
How are things in Glocca Morra?
I want to know how things are in Glocca Morra.
Is that little brook still leaping there?
I am curious if the little brook in Glocca Morra is still flowing happily there.
Does it still run down to Donny cove?
I am wondering if the brook still runs down to Donny cove as it used to.
Through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
I am inquiring if the brook follows its path through Killybegs, Kilkerry and Kildare.
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
I am asking if the willow tree in Glocca Morra is still shedding its leaves and weeping.
Does that lassie with the twinklin' eye
I am inquiring about the girl with the twinkling eyes.
Come smilin' by and does she walk away,
I want to know if she still smiles and walks away like she used to.
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
I am wondering if she becomes sad and dreamy when she does not see me in Glocca Morra.
So I ask each weepin' willow and each brook along the way,
I am talking about how I ask every weeping willow and brook I come across for answers to my questions.
And each lass that comes a-sighin' too ra lay
I also ask every girl I meet who is sighing 'too ra lay'.
How are things in Glocca Morra this fine day?
I repeat my question and want to know how things are in Glocca Morra on this particular day.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Lane, Edgar Yipsel Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind