World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, is an annual music celebration held on 21 June. Music Day is originated in France, and it was first held in Paris on the 21st of June, in 1982. This day also happens when the longest day of the year occurs, the summer solstice.
French Culture Minister Jack Lang proposed the idea for the celebration of World Music Day in 1981.Since then every year this day has been celebrated worldwide. Later on, the event became so popular that it spread throughout the world, and more than 120 countries adopted it, including India, China, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States, and the UK.
In 1982, Jack Lang the Ministry of Culture of France came up with a concept for a new kind of cultural holiday. They imagined an entire day of live music: street corners, parks, rooftops and gardens, shop façades, and mountain tops. In contrast to a traditional music festival, everyone would be invited to participate and play music or host shows. The event would be held on June 21 and would be known as the Fête De La Musique (The name means “music festival” and “music-making” in French).
Ironically, the dream has come true and this festival has become a true national holiday. France is shutting down on the summer solstice and musicians are taking control. For the Fête de la Musique, nearly 8% of the country (5 million people) played an instrument or sang in public.
Why World Music Day is celebrated?
World Music Day is celebrated to promote the music in two ways- Firstly, to inspire amateur and professional musicians to play on the streets and secondly, to organize many free concerts, and to make all genres of music publicly available. Music gives an opportunity to communicate and share a special bond.
Best thing to celebrate world music day is no matter what kind of music you enjoy, you can participate free of charge, and you can involve the whole family as it is absolutely free. On this it will be a perfect opportunity to play a brand new instrument or to listen to a type of music you normally wouldn’t have on your playlist.
According to the French Ministry of Culture, “the Fête de la Musique has been an event that mobilizes musicians from around the world for the enjoyment of the audience of over 120 countries, starting with the European countries”. Last year on World Music Day over 1,000 cities around the world threw citywide music celebrations.
Celebrations
World Music Day has grown over the years to celebrate emerging cultural styles and music from all over the world. The activities of Music Day take place primarily in open areas such as highways, parks , gardens, arenas, stations and halls. The idea is to spread the cheer through music, most of the events are unaffected.
On World Music Day people of the city or country are allowed to play music outside their barrios or in public places and parks, free concerts are organized where musicians can play music and enjoy without payment.
Swikriti Dandotia
