Reviews
GLCD 5110 The Golden Age of Light Music:
Mantovani - By Special Request
By now there are 18 or
19 Guild releases (Distributor: Albany) of Light Music taken from the 78's and
LP's of producer David Ades and restorer Alan Bunting with occasional assistance
from some friends.
The current batch for
review includes:
Light Music from the Silver Screen GLCD 5109
Mantovani-By Special Request GLCD 5110
Reflections of Tranquility GLCD 5112
Mantovani-By Special Request-Vol. 2 GLCD 5113
Highdays and Holidays GLCD 5115 In Town Tonfight- The 1930s Volume 2 GLCD 5116
Bandstand in the Park GLCD 5117. '
Each of these CD's has
20 to 27 tracks. I’ll just be able to indicate a few highlights from each.
5109 features recordings
from the 40's and 50's so the sound even before remastering was good. The
opening track is a symphonic treatment of Early One Morning from "Spring
in Park Lane" played by Robert Farnon and his Orchestra. This folk tune is one
of my favourites, and I was glad to hear this arrangement for the first time.
Seascape from "Western Approaches" really sounds like film music and here is
played gorgeously by the London Symphony Orchestra under Muir Mathieson. Saga
of Odette from "Odette" played by Charles Williams and His Concert Orchestra
is another nice one. Williams with pianist Arthur Sandford also offers the
Mansell Concerto effectively. It's from "The Woman's Angle". There are such
Works similar to, bat not surpassing, the Warsaw Concerto, including the
Quebec Concerto from "Whispering City". It's Williams again bat with
Arthur Dulay at the piano.
All of us of a certain
age will recall Mantovani and his "Cascading Strings". Those lush arrangements
were mostly made by Ronald Binge. On 5110 highlights include Sydney Baynes'
Destiny Waltz, Addinsell's Blithe Spirit-Waltz Theme, El Choclo (Kess of
Fire), and Love Here is My Heart with those Cascading Strings in fall
cry.
5112 has some tracks
where the sound seems a bit bright such as in Shangri-La played by Monty
Kelly and his Orchestra. The Danish State Radio Orchestra under Robert Farnon
turns up often an these CD's and two of these winners are Starry Night
and Mid Ocean written by Farnon himself. A real surprise was Camarata's
version of Cyril Scott's Lotus Land. Not to be missed! Composer Bob
Haymes, younger brother of singer Dick Haymes, turns up an two pieces: Beyond
the Next Hill and La Brilliante both conducted by American conductor
Acquaviva and his Orchestra. This one is one of the best in the series.
5113, Mantovani Vol. 2,
may not be quite the equal of Vol. 1, but there are some winners anyway.
Ancliffe's Nights of Gladness and Concerto in Jazz by Donald
Phillips with Arthur Young at the piano grab your attention.
5115 features music from
the Bosworth Mood Music Library 1937-1953. Many publishers maintained their own
libraries and among them were Paxton. Chappel, and Boosey & Hawkes. Ketèlbey
turns up with In a Chinese Temple Garden and Wedgewood Blue both
played by the Louis Voss Grand Orchestra. Busy Business with a nod to
The Flight of the Bumblebee is a fun novelty number played by the
International Radio Orchestra. Highdays and Holidays by Peter Yorke and
again played by Louis Voss gives this album its title. Voss & Co. also play
Haydn Wood's little known Sketch of a Dandy.
From the title of 5116
you'd guess that Eric Coates's Knightsbridge March has to be here and so
it is played by the BBC Dance Orchestra under Henry Hall. Chinese Street
Serenade features Alfredo Campoli and His Marimba Tango Orchestra. There is
some fancy stick action here. There is an arrangement of Procession of the
Sirdar (sec) by Ippolitov-Ivanov, arr. Finck, played by the Commodore Grand
Orchestra under Joseph Musicant. Special an this CD is a selection from "Mr.
Whittington" played by Ray Noble and the New Mayfair Orchestra. A Bonus track
features experimental stereo from 1934 of the last three numbers from the "Mr.
Whittington" group. You can hear the difference from the mono recording.
Finally 5117 features
bandstand music which may or may not be your cup of tea. But there are some good
pieces such as Ketèlbey's A Japanese Carnival, Walford Davies' Royal
Air Force March Past, a completely unknown An American Folk Rhapsody
by American Clare Grundman and played by the Band of the Irish Guards. I
couldn't identify all the tunes bat I did hear "Ort Top of Old Smokey" and
"Molly Malone" very briefly. There are some other good ones as
well.
The annotations and
documentation an all of these releases is first rate as is the sound
restoration. Do go for your favourites.
Delius Society, USA 02/06
GLCD 5110 – MANTOVANI
– BY SPECIAL REQUEST
Begin The
Beguine; Carriage And Pair; Destiny Waltz; The Way To The Star; Tropical; Blithe
Spirit; Whirlwind; September Nocturne; The Timbalero; Passing Clouds; Blue
Mantilla; Flying Saucers; El Choclo; Love Is Here In My Heart; When The Lilacs
Bloom Again; Love’s Roundabout: A Media Luz; Poeme; Love’s Dream After The Ball;
Amoureuse; Chiquita Mia; Love’s Last Word Is Spoken; Blauer Himmel; Suddenly;
The Whistling Boy; The Agnes Waltz.
I should make clear straight away that the tracks on this CD
are by the Mantovani concert orchestra rather than the smaller unit that played
for dancing pre-1939. This compilation in the Guild light music library series
has in part been compiled from requests made by Mantovani’s many fans, who
presumably already have original or reissues of his biggest hits, such as
Charmaine. These recordings were first made between 1943 and 1953, starting
with the Cole Porter melody that for a while was Monty’s theme tune. Mantovani
always coaxed a wonderful sound from his orchestras even before the advent of
the “cascading strings” and this selection gives an excellent cross-section of
the repertoire and style that gave Mantovani an appreciative world-wide
audience. Great sound and comprehensive liner notes complement the maestro’s
music. GH
Memory Lane Magazine – February 2005
GLCD
5110 – MANTOVANI – BY SPECIAL REQUEST
A
brand new Mantovani CD has just been issued in the Guild Golden Age of Light
Music series. For those who don't know, this series has been initiated by Guild
Records of 314b,8262 Ramsen, Switzerland (www.guildmusic.com) whose e-mail
address is
mailto:guildmusic@bluewin.ch. The Mantovani
disc is the 10th in the series which has set a very high standard so far for
sound quality, presentation and selection of music. All of the series is
currently available in the UK and, like the Mantovani CD can be ordered from
Guild Records or from the Secretary of the Robert Farnon Society, David Ades
(e-mail address
Mailto:david@rfsoc.freeserve.co.uk.)
So what's on the CD? Well, it's a
sparkling selection from the 1940s and early 1950s combining both Mantovani's
pre-Charmaine orchestra and the large string orchestra post-Charmaine.
The tracks and original dates of issue are:
Begin The Beguine (43); Carriage And Pair
(50); Destiny Waltz (49); The Way To The Stars (47); Tropical (44); Blithe
Spirit - Waltz Theme (45); Whirlwind (48); September Nocturne (49); The
Timbalero (44); Passing Clouds (48); Blue Mantilla (48); Flying Saucers (Bees In
The Bonnet) (50); El Choclo (Kiss Of Fire) (48); Love Here Is My Heart (52);
When The Lilac Blooms Again (52); Love's Roundabout (La Ronde De L'Amour) (52);
A Media Luz (53); Poeme (My Moonlight Madonna) (52); Love's Dream After The Ball
(53); Amoureuse (So Madly In Love) (53); Chiquita Mia (46); Love's Last Word Is
Spoken (52); Blauer Himmel (53); Suddenly (Im Chambre Separee) (53); The
Whistling Boy (53); The Agnes Waltz (52). Total no of tracks = 26. Time 77.44.
With audio restoration and remastering by
Alan Bunting and notes by David Ades you can be sure that this CD is of the
highest quality. "Begin The Beguine", the opening track, was Mantovani's
signature tune in the early 1940s and this is a very pleasing version. "Carriage
And Pair" which follows it is one of Mantovani's best pre-"Charmaine" pieces, a
delightful cameo from the days of elegance. Mantovani and Ronnie Binge are both
represented by important compositions: Binge's "Whirlwind" is quite a rarity as
are Monty's wonderful "September Nocturne", surely one of his best ever, and the
lovely "Blue Mantilla" which until now has been one of the hardest of all
Mantovani recordings to track down. For these three tracks alone the CD is
worthy of purchase, but there are others from the pre-Charmaine era of
equal importance, for example "Flying Saucers" also known as "Bees in The
Bonnet", a fabulous showcase for pianist Arthur Sandford, and the ultra rare
"Passing Clouds" which previews the intimate sound Monty and Ronnie Binge came
up with in 1951. The post-Charmaine numbers are pretty good, too. Here is
the sound that made Mantovani famous in all its umptuousness. The intimate
sounds of "Love, Here is My Heart" are a prelude for the rest of the album.
Other favourites of this particular reviewer from this later period are those
lovely Continental waltz hits "When The Lilac Blooms Again", "Poeme", "Love's
Dream After The Ball", "Love's Last Word Is Spoken" and "Amoureuse". Gorgeous,
every one of them! There is something for all Mantovani lovers here and this
important album should not be overlooked by any serious collector.
Incidentally, the Robert Farnon Society (http//www.rfsoc.org.uk
) exists for all lovers of light orchestral music and covers not only Robert
Farnon's work, but Mantovani's as well, and all the other great light
orchestras. The Society brings out an exemplary 80 + page glossy magazine,
"Journal Into Melody", every three months, full of comment and CD reviews. The
membership secretary is Albert Killman (Mailto:akillman@clara.co.uk).
(Tell them we sent you!, Ed.)
Mantovani WEB Pages - Colin MacKenzie.
GLCD 5108 – BRITISH CINEMA AND THEATRE ORCHESTRAS
GLCD 5109 – LIGHT MUSIC FROM THE SILVER SCREEN
GLCD 5110 – MANTOVANI – BY SPECIAL REQUEST
What a splendid way to
start a musical New Year! Three contrasting compilations from the enterprising
Guild Light Music label and more opportunities for David Ades and Alan Bunting
to strut their stuff’. Very pleasant memories of yesterday’s entertainment scene
in Britain are evoked by BRITISH CINEMA & THEATRE
ORCHESTRAS, an intriguing compilation of 78 rpm records by London and provincial
based ‘pit bands’ in their heyday from the late 1920s through the 1930s. The
unique sound of a cinema/theatre organ is heard on several tracks in unison with
the orchestral playing and a fascinating combination results. The UK’s major
record labels had sufficient faith in these ensembles to put them on disc and
justifiably too as the level of musicianship was immensely impressive. In my own
West Midlands ‘neck of the woods’ the Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra under
the direction of William Pethers was considered the finest outside the pit band
at the London Palladium. I am delighted to see their recordings (possibly made
in the Coventry theatre) of selections from ‘Showboat’ and ‘The Vagabond King’
in this set.
The
several different orchestras on display all perform with verve and vitality
making their music travel across the years with an undiminished freshness. Alan
Bunting has worked his customary magic in bringing this music to compact disc
with a startling clarity. A delicious slice of nostalgia!
I am happy
to bestow similar praise on LIGHT MUSIC FROM THE SILVER SCREEN, spanning the
years 1946-1953. British and American orchestras are featured in David Ades’
sparkling compilation of LP and 78 rpm recordings. While the music from the
1930s on the previous disc was before my time, these recordings date from a
period when I first began to appreciate and admire popular light music on radio
and records. Leading names of the period participating in this collection
include Charles Williams, Sidney Torch and George Melachrino. Robert Farnon
leads off with his arrangement of the traditional air EARLY ONE MORNING,
featured in the early Fifties film SPRING IN PARK LANE. I am pleased to see
listed two recordings by the marvellous MGM Studio Orchestra, DANCING IN THE
DARK from 'The
Band
Wagon’ and ADORATION from ‘Lili’. Conrad Salinger’s gorgeous arrangement of the
former title still
sends
shivers down my spine and so for that matter do the emotional strains of CALL OF
THE FARAWAY HILLS, the Victor Young theme for the great western 'Shane’. It is
played here by Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra. This 78 minute disc is a
pleasure to hear and to recall images of many fine films.
I can well
remember envying my best friend’s father when, back in the early 1950s, he
started collecting records by Mantovani. In due course I got to hear some of
those discs and realised that ‘Monty’ was a brilliant conductor in charge of an
outstanding group of musicians. Only in the last few years have I fully
appreciated the depth and scope of Mantovani’s music from the early years of his
career. Adding to my education is Guild’s fine compilation of 26 recordings from
1943 to 1953 under the title MANTOVANI – BY SPECIAL REQUEST. Given the famous
string sound image of Mantovani a Ia CHARMAINE, as conceived by Ronald Binge, it
is intriguing to hear a quite different orchestral sound on BEGIN THE BEGUINE
from 1943 which opens this superb collection. A saxophone section, full brass
plus strings and rhythm would baffle me in a blindfold test but that was Monty
vintage ‘43, and very nice too. Many more gems follow in a range of musical
moods. Great entertainment!
Just to
remind those not already familiar with previous Guild releases, the discs are
most attractively packaged with delightful coloured artwork on the front cover,
authoritative liner notes and a listing of song titles, composers etc. At the
risk of repeating myself, this is the perfect way to build a light music
collection of real quality.
Brian Belton – In Tune International – January
2005
Mantovani’s was the top band of its type and here’s a fine selection of its
Deccas ... Jomathan Woolf - MusicWeb International
Mantovani - By Special Request - The
Golden Age of Light Music
Cole PORTER
Begin The Beguine
Benjamin FRANKEL/PURCELL
Carriage And Pair
Sydney BAYNES
Destiny Waltz
Nicholas BRODSZKY
The Way To The Stars – theme from the film
Morton GOULD
Tropical
Richard ADDINSELL
Blithe Spirit – Waltz Theme – from the film Whirlwind - arranged
Ronald BINGE
MANTOVANI
September Nocturne – with Arthur Sandford, piano
STANLEY/BORGUNO/ARRES
The Timbalero – Rumba
Phil CARDEW
Passing Clouds
Pedro MANILLA
Blue Mantilla
Dennis FERN
Flying Saucers (Bees in the Bonnet) – with Arthur Sandford, piano
A VILLOLDO
El Choclo (Kiss Of Fire) (arranged Barry)
Adrian ROSS/Lao SILESU
Love Here Is My Heart
DOELLE/MAIR
When The Lilac Blooms Again
Oscar STRAUSS, DUCREUX,
PURCELL Love’s Roundabout (La Ronde de
L’Amour)
E DONATO
A Media Luz
Zdenek FIBICH
Poème (My Moonlight Madonna)
Alfons CZIBULKA
Love’s Dream After The Ball
BERGER
Amoureuse (So Madly In Love)
Paul REMY/Felix KING
Chiquita Mia
BIXIO/SIEVIER
Love’s Last Word Is Spoken
Josef RIXNER
Blauer Himmel
HEUBERGER/COCHRAN
Suddenly (Im Chambre Separeé)
Ian STEWART
The Whistling Boy
HANNAH/WILLIAM/KENNEDY
The Agnes Waltz
 Mantovani
and his Orchestra
Recorded 1943-53
GUILD
LIGHT MUSIC GLCD 5110 [77.44]
Britain benefited enormously from expatriate Italian musicians. Both Mantovani
and Campoli came to London within a year or so of each other, aged no more than
six, as their musician fathers sought better employment prospects. Both men’s
careers began similarly; prodigiously talented, early training (in Mantovani’s
case at Trinity) and early debuts. Both gravitated towards the light field,
restaurants and theatre bands, and grew to fame. Of course Campoli’s ambitions
lay elsewhere but Mantovani’s career in light music was long lasting and
famously productive.
It helped that he also played the piano and that he had such fine arrangers. It
was Ronald Binge who was largely responsible for the Cascading Strings, that
glamorous waterfall that was so much a part of the Sound. But there was much
else; the standard of musicianship in all sections was high, the songs were
snappy and brightly contoured and Mantovani had an ear for piquant colour. So
Begin the Beguine is here – of course – as is The Way to the Stars
with its fine strings but there’s also the Noel Coward selection, with the Waltz
from Blithe Spirit proving to have a sultry wash of fiddles and notable
clarinet. Binge’s Whirlwind is rousing stuff and there’s some ruminative,
romantic piano in Mantovani’s own September Nocturne. He wrote quite a
fair amount, often under pseudonyms, and this one shows his sensitive palette
and romantic affiliations. With Flying Saucers (Bees in the Bonnet)
we embrace the novelty genre and there’s the tang of the accordion in the
promisingly titled El Choclo (Kiss of Fire). We can sample the
Binge-Mantovani strings at their most cascading in Love’s Roundabout –
and the band at its most soupy in Fibich’s Poème (a performance that
would have made a Palm Court fiddler blush). To balance that there’s the rococo
charm of Ian Stewart’s The Whistling Boy which like the rest of this
programme was recorded in the decade between 1943 and 1953.
Mantovani’s was the top band of its type and here’s a fine
selection of its Deccas. I have a strong feeling that the discs could yield more
treble than they do in these transfers; there’s been just a little too much
noise reduction and that’s squeezed a bit of the air from them. Still, that’s a
relatively small matter; there’s no surface noise in compensation.
Jonathan Woolf
Page revised Thursday August 31 2006 |
