THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

"'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 developed 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 Barbra Streisand, with several main differences:
::''Helpless to resist the notes I write,''
::''For I compose the music of the night.'' (addition)
:Later on:
::''Hearing is believing''
::''Music is deceiving''
::''Hard as lightning soft as candle light''
::''Dare you trust the music of the night''
:Replaced with:
::''Turn your face away from the garish light of day,''
::''Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light,''
::''And listen to the music of the night''
:And subsequently:
::''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''
:Replaced with:
::''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''
: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!''

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External links

External links

★ Alternate lyrics to the song

★ Former Broadway Phantom Hugh Panaro performing the song in concert