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.
Little Brown Church In the Vale
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wildwood
No lovelier place in the dale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the dail
How sweet on a clear Sabbath
Morning
Its tones so sweetly are calling
Oh come to the church in the dail
(Oh, come, come, come, come)
Come to the church by the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dail
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
There, close by the church in the
Valle y
Lies one that I loved so well
She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, ' neath the willow
Disturb not her rest in the vale
Oh, close by the side of that loved
One
′ Behind the tree where the sweet flowers bloom
When farewell hymns shall be chanted
I shall rest by her side in the tomb
(Oh, come, come, come, come)
Come to the church by the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the dail
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
(End)
Writen by yohany mtui
Johson18.js@gmail.com
The lyrics of Mantovani's song, "Little Brown Church in the Vale," evoke strong feelings of nostalgia and longing. The singer sings about a church in the valley by the wildwood, a place that holds a special meaning to him because he associates it with his childhood. He describes how sweet it is on a clear Sabbath morning to hear the ringing bells and how they call out to people to come to the church in the dale. He reminisces about someone he loved so well who is buried close to the church and how their tomb will be his resting place as well.
The song's lyrics celebrate the simple pleasures of life, like the beauty of nature and the comfort of a familiar place. The little brown church in the vale represents a sanctuary where the singer feels at peace and where he can connect with his past. The song's message about the importance of memories and the power of love and loss resonates with many people, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a church in the valley by the Wildwood
The Wildwood has an adorable church located in the valley
No lovelier place in the dale
None of the delightful places in the valley compares to this church
No spot is so dear to my childhood
This church holds a special place in my childhood memories
As the little brown church in the dale
The little brown church located in the valley is what I'm referring to
How sweet on a clear Sabbath Morning
On a calm Sabbath morning, how lovely it is
To listen to the clear ringing bells
It's delightful to hear the church bells ringing clearly
Its tones so sweetly are calling
The church bells are inviting people warmly
Oh come to the church in the dale
People, please come to the church located in the valley
(Oh, come, come, come, come)
Repeated calls for people to come to the church in the valley
Come to the church by the Wildwood
The church is located in the vicinity of the Wildwood
There, close by the church in the Valley
There's somebody who's lying adjacent to the church in the valley
Lies one that I loved so well
A loved one of mine rests there
She sleeps, sweetly sleeps, 'neath the willow
My loved one is buried under the willow and resting peacefully
Disturb not her rest in the vale
Please don't disturb her peaceful rest in the valley
Oh, close by the side of that loved One
My grave will be adjacent to hers
'Behind the tree where the sweet flowers bloom
My grave will be located behind a tree that produces sweet-smelling flowers
When farewell hymns shall be chanted
When the hymns bidding farewell shall be sung
I shall rest by her side in the tomb
I'll join my loved one in the grave
No spot is so dear to my childhood
This church is very sentimental to me since my childhood days
As the little brown church in the vale
I am referring to the little brown church located in the valley
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As aforementioned, this church holds sentimental value to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale
Again, I am referring to the little brown church located in the valley
(End)
The song ends
Writer(s): Mantovani Annunzio Paolo
Contributed by Nora L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Leonard Andrews
Genuine praise - not just showmanship.
Patrick Richmond
These were the REAL hymns. I remember singing these type of hymns in church when I was a little guy.