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.
Sleigh Ride
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "Yoo hoo"
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go,
Let's look at the show.
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, it's grand
Just holding your hand.
We're gliding along with a song of a wintery fairy land.
Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we,
We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be.
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two
Come on it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you.
The song "Sleigh Ride" is a joyful and festive embrace of wintertime and the holiday season. The opening lyrics set the scene for the song, with sleigh bells jingling and snow falling outside. The singer invites their companion to join them on a sleigh ride, calling out "come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you." The playful and jovial tone of the song is established with the repetition of "giddy yap" and the invitation to "let's look at the show," referring to the winter landscape outside.
Throughout the song, the lyrics paint a picturesque scene of gliding through a snowy wonderland, holding hands with a loved one. The comfort and warmth of being snuggled up together is emphasized, with the imagery of rosy cheeks and cozy comfort. The song culminates in a call-and-response chorus, inviting the listener to join in singing and enjoying the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
Just hear those sleigh bells jingle-ing, ring-ting tingle-ing, too
Listen to the sound of the sleigh bells ringing and jingling joyfully
Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Let's enjoy this wonderful weather and go on a sleigh ride together
Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling "Yoo hoo"
The snow is falling and our friends are calling us to come and play
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, let's go
Excitedly urging the horse to move and go on the ride
Let's look at the show
Let's admire the beautiful winter scenery around us
We're riding in a wonderland of snow
We're riding in a magical and enchanting world of snow
Giddy yap, giddy yap, giddy yap, it's grand
We're having a great time and feeling exhilarated
Just holding your hand
Being together and holding hands is adding to our happiness
We're gliding along with a song of a wintery fairy land
As we ride, we are accompanied by a melody that perfectly captures the enchanting winter landscape around us
Our cheeks are nice and rosy and comfy cozy are we
Our cheeks are red from the cold, but we feel comfortable and cozy snuggled up together
We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be
We are as close and content as two closely bonded animals
Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two
Let's continue our journey and sing a few songs as we go
Come on it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
Let's take advantage of this perfect weather and enjoy the sleigh ride together
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind