Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980) was a popular… Read Full Bio ↴Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (November 15, 1905 – March 29, 1980) was a popular conductor and entertainer in the "easy listening" style. Mantovani is probably more associated with the easy listening genre than any other person.

He was born in Venice, Italy and his father was the concertmaster of the La Scala orchestra under Arturo Toscanini. His family moved to England in 1912, where he studied at Trinity College of Music in London. After graduation, he formed his own orchestra, which played in and around Birmingham. By the time World War II broke out, his orchestra was one of the most popular in England, both on the BBC and in live performances.

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 Ronnie Binge, who developed the cascading string sound that became his hallmark in such hits as Charmaine. His records were regulars in stores selling hi-fi stereo equipment, as they were produced and arranged for stereo reproduction.

He recorded for Decca until the mid-1950s, at which time he switched to 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 to 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.

Mantovani made his last recordings in 1975.

Since his death at his 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 salability of the Mantovani name is underscored by new recordings being made as the Mantovani Orchestra. Unfortunately, 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.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
the mantovani orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan′s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tiding of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.

"Fear not, then," said the angel,
"Let nothing you affright;
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan's power and might."

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas
Doth bring redeeming grace

Overall Meaning

The Mantovani Orchestra's song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is a classic Christmas carol that seeks to remind listeners of the birth of Jesus Christ, on which the holiday is based. The first verse of the song urges the listeners to remain happy and positive, without any sense of distress, since Christ, the savior was born on Christmas day with the intent of saving mankind from Satan's influence, which had led them astray. The verse talks about the comfort and joy that comes with the tidings of Christ's birth, urging the listeners to embrace this feeling of comfort and joy.

The second verse of the song urges listeners to remember how the good news of Christ's birth was delivered to the world; through an angel sent by God, to certain shepherds in Bethlehem. The verse mentions that the Son of God was born in Bethlehem, and urges the listeners to be fearless and not to be frightened of the ongoing events. The verse reinforces the idea of a savior who was born of a pure virgin, Mary, and gives hope of salvation to all those who believe in him.

In the third verse, the song urges everyone in the place to sing praises to the Lord and embrace each other with true love and brotherhood. The holy tide of Christmas is here, and the song emphasizes how it brings with it a redeeming grace, one that will free believers from the influence of Satan's power and might. Ultimately, the song is a call for the believers to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing love and joy with each other, while recognizing the redeeming grace that it brings.

Line by Line Meaning

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
May God grant you peace and happiness, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,
Do not be troubled or worried,

Remember Christ our Savior
Recall that Christ, our rescuer,

Was born on Christmas Day;
Was brought into this world on Christmas Day;

To save us all from Satan's power
In order to free us all from the dominion of Satan,

When we were gone astray.
When we had gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,
This is news of great joy and comfort,

Comfort and joy,
Joy and comfort,

O tidings of comfort and joy!
This is news of great joy and comfort!

From God our heavenly Father
From our heavenly Father above,

A blessed angel came;
A blessed angel appeared;