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What is the role that music and songs have in the play "Twelfth Night"?

Music and songs have special implications in the play Twelfth Night. They help to create the festive atmosphere of the play. It should be noted in this regard that Twelfth Night opens and ends with songs. The opening song (“If music be the food of love, play on”) creates the original mood of the play. The audience understands that they have come to see a romantic comedy. The final song (“When that I was and a little tiny boy”), sung by Feste, projects the realistic mood of the play. It reveals that Shakespeare has presented on stage a romantic comedy which is not detached from our everyday reality. Thus, songs are used by Shakespeare not only for the purpose of entertaining the audience, but they are also closely linked to the play’s theme.