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.
Pieces of Dreams
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You go a wondering, wandering
Stumbling, tumbling, round! round!
When will you find
What's on the tip of your mind?
Why are you blind
To all you ever were
Never were, really are, nearly are?
Will you ever be done traveling
Always unraveling you, you?
Running away could lead you further astray
And as for fishing in streams for pieces of dreams
Those pieces will never fit
What is the sense of it?
Little boy blue, don't let your little sheep roam
It's time ,come blow your horn, meet the morn
Look and see, can you be far from home?
The song "Pieces of Dreams," beautifully sung by Mantovani, captures the essence of uncertainty and confusion. The lyrics describe a little boy who is lost, constantly searching for something that he cannot quite identify. The boy is wandering, stumbling and tumbling, trying to find what’s on the tip of his mind. The lyrics reflect the inner turmoil and confusion of a child who is seeking his identity, trying to find his place in the world but unable to see the things that he already has.
As the lyrics progress, it becomes clear that the little boy is searching for what he believes to be the truth but is unable to find it. The lyrics suggest that the boy’s journey leads him far away from home, and he is always unraveling, running away and fishing in streams for pieces of dreams that can never fit. The boy is falsely looking for the right thing in all the wrong places. The song serves as a reminder that sometimes the things we search for are right in front of us, but we are unable to see them because of our blindness.
In conclusion, "Pieces of Dreams" is a beautiful song that speaks to the universal struggle to find one's identity and sense of purpose. The lyrics are a poignant reminder that sometimes, the things we seek are already within us, and the journey lies in discovering them. The song is an emotional and heartfelt representation of inner turmoil and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Little boy lost in search of little boy found
You are searching for what you have lost or what you never had
You go a wondering, wandering
You don't have a clear path or direction
Stumbling, tumbling, round! round!
You are having a hard time figuring things out
When will you find
You wonder when you will discover what you are looking for
What's on the tip of your mind?
You are always questioning what you really want
Why are you blind
You cannot see the truth or what is in front of you
To all you ever were
You are forgetting your past and who you used to be
Never were, really are, nearly are?
You are questioning your identity and existence
Little boy false in search of little boy true
You are pretending to be someone you are not in search of who you truly are
Will you ever be done traveling
You wonder when you will stop searching and start living
Always unraveling you, you?
You are constantly trying to figure yourself out
Running away could lead you further astray
Avoiding your problems will only make things worse
And as for fishing in streams for pieces of dreams
You are looking for something that doesn't exist
Those pieces will never fit
What you are looking for will never be what you truly need
What is the sense of it?
You question the purpose of your search
Little boy blue, don't let your little sheep roam
Stay true to yourself and don't let others influence you
It's time ,come blow your horn, meet the morn
It's time to start a new day and take control of your life
Look and see, can you be far from home?
Take a moment to reflect and see if you are on the right path
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN BERGMAN, MARILYN BERGMAN, MICHEL LEGRAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind