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.
The First Noel
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
The First Noel is a Christmas carol that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ from the perspective of the shepherds and the wise men. The opening verse begins with conveying how the angels appeared before the shepherds in the fields and announced the birth of Jesus, the savior of Israel. The word Noel is used as a refrain that is woven into each verse of the song. It is a French word that means "Christmas," and it is believed that the word was used to give the song a sense of celebration and festivity.
The lyrics then describe how the shepherds looked up and saw a bright star shining in the East, leading them to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The bright light given off by the star is symbolic of the divine presence of Jesus, the light of the world. The next verse mentions the arrival of the wise men who traveled a great distance to find the newborn king. They had seen the star and were intent on finding the king it pointed to. The final verse calls upon everyone to joyfully praise the Lord for creating heaven and earth and sacrificing Himself to give life to mankind.
Overall, The First Noel is a beautiful and moving song that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
The First Noel, the Angels did say
The Angels announced the first Christmas to certain poor shepherds in fields.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The announcement of Christmas was made specifically to poor shepherds who were lying in fields.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
The shepherds were lying in fields to watch over their sheep.
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
The Christmas announcement was made on a cold winter night, which was very dark and quiet.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
The refrain, 'Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel' celebrates the birth of a new king in Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
The shepherds saw a bright star shining in the east, far away from them.
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
The star gave great light to the earth and continued to shine both day and night.
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
The star also guided three wise men from a distant country towards the birthplace of the new king.
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
The wise men's intent was to find a new king and so they followed the star wherever it led them.
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
The star guided the wise men to the northwest direction to Bethlehem where it stopped and paused right over the place where Jesus lay.
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
The wise men entered with full reverence and offered gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense to the newborn king.
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
The song concludes with an invitation for everyone to sing praises to the God who created heaven and earth and bought mankind with his blood.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wtgm3
Thanks for uploading this! My dad had an album of Mantovani's with this song on it. Teh cover had a candle, as I recall. It brings back memories of me sitting and listening to this and other Mantovani music.