The Music of the Night (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Music of the Night is a song from the musical The Phantom of the Opera. It is one of the show's most famous songs and one of Broadway's most famous songs as well. The popular song has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into many different languages. The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the lyrics were written by Charles Hart. The song was made famous by Michael Crawford, the actor who originated the role of the Phantom both in London and on Broadway.

It is sung after the Phantom lures Christine Daaé down to his lair beneath the Opera house. He seduces Christine with "his music" of the night. Eventually, the Phantom pulls back a curtain to reveal a life-size doll of Christine in a wedding gown, causing her to faint. The Phantom carries Christine to a bed, where he lays her and goes on to write his music.

Sarah Brightman declared at the London's Royal Albert Hall Concert in 1997 [1], that the song was originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber for her, the first time he met her. It was later added into the Phantom of the Opera musical.

The song is in the key of D-flat major (the composer's favorite) and the meter is 4/4. The Aria starts in D-flat Major switches to E-Major. The song then changes back to D-flat to finish the song. It is noted for being particularly difficult to sing, and is commonly used in training for show baritones. The performer must have a well devoloped low baritone range, and a very strong falsetto--spanning two octaves from bottom to top A-flat, the latter held for a long pause.

There are three different versions of The Music of the Night. The first being the original stage lyrics contains:

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you.

Feel it, hear it, closing in around you.

Later these lyrics were changed:

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you.

Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you.

Michael Crawford recorded a third video version, later used in duet with Barbara Streisand, with several main differences:

Helpless to resist the notes I write,

For I compose the music of the night. (addition)

Later on:

Turn your face away from the garish light of day

Turn your face away from cold, unfeeling light

And listen to the music of the night

Replaced with:

Hearing is believing,

Music is deceiving,

Hard as lightning, soft as candle light,

Dare you trust the music of the night

And subsequently:

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar

And you'll live as you've never lived before

Replaced with:

Close your eyes,

For your eyes will only tell the truth,

And the truth isn't what you want to see,

In the dark it is easy to pretend,

That the truth is what it ought to be

Just a small change, but:

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world,

Changed to:

Close your eyes, start a journey through a strange, new world

And also:

Let your soul take you where you long to be!

Changed to:

Close your eyes and let music set you free!

Therefore we have the final lyrics:

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation,

Darkness stirs and wakes imagination

Silently the senses abandon their defenses

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour,

Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender,

Turn your face away from the garish light of day

Turn your face away from cold, unfeeling light

And listen to the music of the night

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!

Purge all thoughts of the life you knew before!

Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!

And you'll live as you've never lived before

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you,

Feel it, hear it, secretly possess you,

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,

In this darkness which you know you cannot fight

The darkness of the music of the night

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world!

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!

Let your soul take you where you long to be!

Only then can you belong to me

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication

Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation

Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in

To the power of the music that I write

The power of the music of the night!

You alone can make my song take flight

Help me make the music of the night

[edit] External links

Alternate lyrics to the song

Former Broadway Phantom Hugh Panaro performing the song in concert