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 Whiffenpoof Song
Mantovani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the place where Louie dwells
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
Baa, baa, baa
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
Baa, baa, baa
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Doomed from here to eternity
Lord have mercy on such as we
Baa, baa, baa
The Whiffenpoof Song is a classic tune that celebrates the tradition of singing and drinking among Yale students. The lyrics describe a group of friends who gather at a common spot, Mory's, to enjoy each other's company and sing the songs they love. The song praises the "magic" of their singing and the way in which it "casts its spell" on those who hear it. The Whiffenpoofs, a famous a cappella group formed at Yale in 1909, are the group being celebrated in the song.
The second verse of The Whiffenpoof Song turns darker as it describes the group's realization that they are "poor little lambs who have lost [their] way." They are "little black sheep" who have "gone astray." It's a reminder that even as they gather to sing and have fun, they are also human and flawed, subject to the same struggles and temptations as anyone else. The Whiffenpoofs' time together is short, and they know that they will eventually "pass and be forgotten with the rest." But in the meantime, they want to make the most of their time and celebrate life while they can.
Line by Line Meaning
To the tables down at Mory's
Heading down to the meeting place at Mory's
To the place where Louie dwells
Where Louie resides, we'll go there.
To the dear old Temple bar we love so well
Going to the nostalgic Temple bar that we hold dear in our hearts.
Sing the Whiffenpoofs assembled with their glasses raised on high
The Whiffenpoofs are singing while holding their glasses high.
And the magic of their singing casts it's spell
Their singing has a spellbinding effect.
Yes, the magic of their singing of the songs we love so well
Their singing of the songs we treasure has a magical effect.
"Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and the rest
We will sing "Shall I Wasting" and "Mavourneen" and other similar songs.
We will serenade our Louie while life and voice shall last
We will perform for Louie as long as we have our voice and life.
Then we'll pass and be forgotten with the rest
We will eventually pass away and be forgotten like everyone else.
We're poor little lambs who have lost our way
We're like lost little lambs.
Baa, baa, baa
Just like little lambs!
We're little black sheep who have gone astray
We're like black sheep who went down the wrong path.
Gentleman songsters off on a spree
Dapper and refined singers partying hard.
Doomed from here to eternity
Their fate is sealed, lasting for eternity.
Lord have mercy on such as we
Asking for mercy for their actions.
Baa, baa, baa
Just like little lambs!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOD GALLOWAY, TOD B GALLOWAY, MOSS HART, MEADE MINNIGERODE, GEORGE S POMEROY, RUDY VALLEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind