West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus Lyrics
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Won't be just any night
Tonight there will be no morning star
Tonight, tonight
I'll see my love tonight
And for us, stars will stop where they are
Today the minutes seem like hours
And still the night is light
Oh moon, grow bright
And make this endless day endless night!
Tonight
Today, the world was just an address
A place for me to live in
No better than alright
But here you are
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight
The lyrics of "Tonight" from the musical West Side Story beautifully capture the anticipation and excitement of the main characters, Tony and Maria, as they prepare to see each other on a fateful night. The song is filled with a sense of magic and hope, highlighting the transformative power of love.
"Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night" suggests that this particular evening will be extraordinary and unforgettable. Tony and Maria believe that this night will be different from any other, and that their love will transcend all barriers. The mention of the absence of the morning star indicates that the usual order of things is disregarded, as the stars themselves seem to pause and acknowledge the significance of this moment.
The following lines express the longing and impatience Tony feels as he awaits the arrival of his love: "Today the minutes seem like hours, the hours go so slowly, and still the night is light." This portrays the sense of time standing still and the heightened emotions that come with profound anticipation. The mention of the moon growing bright symbolizes the desire for the night to feel endless, creating an atmosphere of romance and enchantment.
As the song progresses, Tony reflects on how his world has changed with Maria's presence: "Today, the world was just an address, a place for me to live in, no better than alright. But here you are, and what was just a world is a star tonight." Tony's perception of the world transforms, and he compares it to a star, symbolizing the beauty, brightness, and possibility that Maria brings into his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight, tonight
This upcoming evening, this specific point in time
Won't be just any night
It will not be an ordinary or regular night
Tonight there will be no morning star
During this night, the usual morning star will not be visible
Tonight, tonight
Once again, this particular evening
I'll see my love tonight
I will have the opportunity to gaze upon the person I deeply care for
And for us, stars will stop where they are
The celestial bodies will halt their movement, symbolizing the significance of our love
Today the minutes seem like hours
The passage of time feels incredibly slow, with each minute appearing to stretch like hours
The hours go so slowly
The duration of hours appears to drag on with great slowness
And still the night is light
Despite the perception of elongated time, the night remains bright and illuminated
Oh moon, grow bright
Moon, increase your luminosity
And make this endless day endless night!
Cause this never-ending day to transform into an unending night!
Tonight
During this eve
Today, the world was just an address
Earlier, the world merely served as a location, a place I resided in
A place for me to live in
Somewhere for me to exist and occupy
No better than alright
Rather average, not particularly outstanding
But here you are
However, now that you are present
And what was just a world is a star
The entire world has transformed into something exceptional, akin to a shining star
Tonight
This night
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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Dennis Johnson Music
Seasoned band directors have learned how to play
all of the instruments and inherently know what
to tell students to do specifically in order to "fix"
an issue. Whether it be a special fingering, a breathing
technique or whatever. Percussion is a special
animal for sure, but with today's access to every
technique known to man on You Tube, there are
no excuses for not knowing what to say to help
your students. I certainly don't know everything
but I can find out or find someone who does.
Just a thought.
Luke Shaffer
The Greatest Music Educator of All Time: "I don't know how to do it. But do it."
This is the life of a percussionist.
lollycopter
One time I was too quiet on the chimes and the principal trombone turned around and said "just make noise".
Lambchop Webb
us percussionist have it hard
S Tahboub
@lollycopter who would know better about noise? lol
Luke Heuser
He is not the greatest...
Michael O'Neill
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I do this on occasion. Not to percussion. To sopranos.
Alexa
"I don't know how to tell you to do it but DO IT!" I think every band director has said this at least once before.
Acacia Bloom
band director............?? - a band is a band as an orchestra is an orchestra
林漢
They are practically the same thing as conductors, only that band director leads a band (not a rock band or such but a ensemble consisting of mostly wind instruments) instead of orchestra.
cellogirl11RW
Alexa Patricia In my humble opinion, the best conductors are the ones that don't try to tell you how to play your instrument, but, instead, tell you what they are hearing, what they want to hear, and coach you until you get it just right.