Mantovani and his Orchestra

A Song For Christmas (2CD)

Mantovani made his first Christmas single ("White Christmas" with Adeste Fideles for the B side) for Decca in October 1952. A year later he recorded a further twelve numbers for An Album of Christmas Music and it became a major seller in the 1950s.

MORE INFORMATION

With the advent of stereo, in 1958, all fourteen numbers were re-recorded and the album (here heard as CD 1) became a million seller. It was followed in 1963 with a second Christmas album, entitled A Song for Christmas from which this set takes its name. A Song for Christmas features the Mike Sammes Chorus & Singers who often joined the Italian born maestro’s musicians. They can be heard on seven of the twelve numbers on the record. A frequent arranger of much of the music Mantovani recorded was Cecil Milner, one of the maestro’s select team of arrangers.

TRACK LIST

CD 1 Mantovani – Christmas Album O Come all ye Faithful Hark! The Herald Angels Sing God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen White Christmas Good King Wenceslas O Holy Night The First Nowell Joy to the World Silent Night, Holy Night O Tannenbaum Midnight Waltz Nazareth O Little Town of Bethlehem The Skaters’ Waltz, Op. 183 (Les Patineurs) CD 2 A Song for Christmas Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly* Once in Royal David’s City* Jingle Bells Toy Waltz The Holly and the Ivy* O Thou that tellest Good Tidings to Zion (from Messiah) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear* The Twelve Days of Christmas* While Shepherds Watched Christmas Bells Mary’s Boy Child* I Saw Three Ships* Mike Sammes Chorus & Singers* Mantovani & his Orchestra