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.
Let It Snow
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Mantovani's "Let It Snow" is a classic Christmas tune that describes the joy of being cozy inside with loved ones on a snowy winter day. The first stanza highlights the contrast between the unpleasant weather outside and the cozy atmosphere inside, as the fire crackles in the fireplace. Despite the inclement weather, the singer and their loved one seem content to stay indoors and snuggle up, finding comfort in each other's company. The repeated refrain, "Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!" emphasizes the singer's desire to prolong the moment and stay in this idyllic space.
The second stanza further illustrates the singer's commitment to enjoying the moment. Rather than letting the snowstorm dampen their spirits, they have prepared some popcorn and dimmed the lights to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. The singer's thoughts then turn to the impending farewell with their partner, acknowledging that they will have to eventually venture out into the storm. However, they take solace in the fact that their partner's embrace will keep them warm on the journey home.
The final stanza highlights the bittersweet nature of the song, as the fire dies down and the couple prepares to say their goodbyes. However, the singer is reassured by their partner's love and knows they will carry that warmth with them into the storm. The song ends with the repeated refrain, "Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!" suggesting a desire to stay frozen in time, in this cozy moment with their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the weather outside is frightful
The weather outside is very unpleasant, cold and uncomfortable.
But the fire is so delightful
Being near the fire is very pleasant, warm and comfortable.
And since we've no place to go
Since we have nowhere else to be or go, we might as well enjoy the comfort of being inside.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
It's snowing heavily outside, but let's enjoy the moment and not worry about anything else.
It doesn't show signs of stopping
The snow doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon.
And I've bought some corn for popping
I have prepared some snacks to enjoy while staying cozy indoors.
The lights are turned way down low
The lights are dimmed to create a cozy, warm atmosphere.
When we finally kiss goodnight
When we say goodnight and part ways, we know we will miss each other's company.
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
I really don't want to go out into the snowstorm – it will be cold and uncomfortable.
But if you'll really hold me tight
If you hold me close and keep me warm, it will make it easier to bear the cold.
All the way home I'll be warm
I'll feel warm and safe all the way home as long as I'm with someone I love.
The fire is slowly dying
The fire is starting to die down, and the warmth and coziness it provided will soon be gone.
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
We're still taking our time saying goodbye, even though we know we'll miss each other.
But as long as you love me so
As long as we love each other, everything feels warmer and brighter, even in the cold and snow.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Despite the cold and unpredictable weather, let's enjoy the moment and the warmth and comfort we have with each other.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind