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.
Somewhere My Love
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Although the snow covers the hope of spring
Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold
And there are dreams all that your heart can hold
Someday we'll meet again my love
Someday whenever the spring breaks through
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow
Lara my own, think of me now and then
God speed my love till you are mine again
You'll come to me out of the long ago
Warm as the wind soft as the kiss of snow
Till then my sweet think of me now and then
God speed my love 'til you are mine again
The lyrics of Mantovani's song "Somewhere My Love" paint a picture of a love that is separated by distance and time. The idea of "somewhere" conveys a sense of longing and hope for the love to come together again. The opening line suggests that even in the midst of darkness and despair (represented by the covering of spring by snow), there are still songs to be sung. This could be interpreted as finding joy and beauty even in difficult times.
The lyrics continue to describe a hill that is blossoming in green and gold, symbolizing the potential for growth and new beginnings. The imagery of dreams that one's heart can hold represents the ability to hold on to hope and aspirations. The second verse is addressed directly to the singer's love and speaks of meeting again someday when spring breaks through. The use of "long ago" and "out of the long ago" implies that the separation has been going on for a while, adding to the sense of nostalgia and yearning.
The final lines of the song include a plea for the love to think of them occasionally and to "come" to them like a warm wind or gentle snowfall. The repeated phrase "God speed my love till you are mine again" is a prayerful wish for the couple to be reunited once again. Overall, the lyrics convey a powerful message of love and hope, even in the face of adversity and separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere, my love there will be songs to sing
Even though we are apart, there is hope that we will meet again and celebrate with music
Although the snow covers the hope of spring
Winter may seem bleak, but there is still potential for new beginnings
Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold
In the midst of barrenness, there are still places where life flourishes
And there are dreams all that your heart can hold
Despite distance and obstacles, our hearts hold onto the hope of being together again
Someday we'll meet again my love
There is a belief that we will be reunited at some point in the future
Someday whenever the spring breaks through
It may not happen soon, but when the right time comes, we will see each other again
You'll come to me out of the long ago
Memories of the past bring the hope of a future reunion
Warm as the wind, soft as the kiss of snow
This person brings a sense of comfort and familiarity to the singer
Lara my own, think of me now and then
Even when we're apart, thoughts of each other bring comfort and solace
God speed my love till you are mine again
May time pass quickly until we can be reunited once more
Till then my sweet think of me now and then
While we wait for our reunion, we will hold onto memories and keep each other in our minds
God speed my love 'til you are mine again
Speed up the process of us being together once more
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAURICE JARRE, PAUL FRANCIS WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind