Fête de la Musique

The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment.

Fête de la Musique
The Fête de la Musique on 21 June 2010 in Paris
GenreWorld music
Dates21 June, yearly
Location(s)
  • France (originally)
  • World (today)
Years active1982–present
Founded by
Websitefetedelamusique.culture.gouv.fr

The first all-day musical celebration on the day of the summer solstice was originated by Jack Lang, then Minister of Culture of France, as well as by Maurice Fleuret; it was celebrated in Paris in 1982. Music Day later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world.

History

In October 1981, Maurice Fleuret became Director of Music and Dance at the French Ministry of Culture at Jack Lang's request. He applied his reflections to the musical practice and its evolution: "the music everywhere and the concert nowhere". When he discovered, in a 1982 study on the cultural habits of the French, that five million people, one young person out of two, played a musical instrument, he began to dream of a way to bring people out on the streets. It first took place in 1982 in Paris as the Fête de la Musique.[1][2]

Ever since, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 700 cities in 120 countries, including India, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States,[3] the UK, and Japan.[4][2]

In the Anglosphere, the day has become known as Music Day,[5] Make Music Day[6][7] and World Music Day.[8]

Purpose

Fête de la Musique's purpose is to promote music. Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets, under the slogan "Faites de la musique" ("Make music"), a homophone of Fête de la musique.[9] Thousands of free concerts are staged throughout the day, making all genres of music accessible to the public.[10]

In France, all concerts must be free to the public, and all performers donate their time free of charge. This is true of most participating cities as well.

In France

Despite there being a large tolerance by the general public about the performance of music by amateurs in public areas after the usual hours, noise restrictions still apply and can cause some establishments to be forbidden to remain open and broadcast music out of their doors without prior authorization. This means that the prefectures of police in France can still forbid individuals, groups, or establishments to install any audio hardware in the street.[11]

Reach and impact

As of 2019 there were 120 countries participating in Fête de la Musique,[12] and over 1,000 cities participated across the world in that year.[13] In 2023, events were held on most continents.[14]

Italy's Festa della Musica began in 1985, and became national in 1994.[14]

The UK Event began as National Music Day in 1992.[15] Make Music Day UK became an independent organization in 2022.[14]

Ukraine has held the event in Lviv since 2013, and it has continued despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14]

In the United States, the Make Music Alliance was formed in 2014 to help coordinate efforts across the country. In 2023 there were 4,791 free concerts held across 117 U.S. cities, with over 100 in Cincinnati, Madison, New York City, Philadelphia, and Salem.[16]

In Australia, Make Music Day Australia was initiated in 2018 by the Australian Music Association (AMA),[17] and as of 2022 was co-hosted by the AMA and National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).[18] In 2023, a huge international project called "Make Music, Make Friends" partnered 10 Australian schools with schools around the world to share music and greet one another on Make Music Day.[19]

Turkiye and Ghana held their first Make Music Days in 2022, and South Africa in 2023.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Historique de la Fête de la Musique". Fete de la Musique. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. "La Fête de la musique : une fête nationale devenue un grand événement musical mondial". Le Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication: Fête de la Musique (in French). Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. "Make Music Day". Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. "Around The World". Make Music – 21 June. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. "Music Day". Music Day UK. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  6. "Free 'Make Music Day' festival coming in June". Associated Press. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. "Make Music Day". Make Music – 21 June. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  8. "The World Music Day: How it came into being". India Today. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  9. "Historique de la Fête de la Musique". Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  10. "Fête de la Musique 2019: How to make the most of France's biggest street music party". www.thelocal.fr. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. "Marais: les gays privés de Fête de la Musique?". 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  12. Jenkins, Pete (21 June 2019). "What countries celebrate World Music Day?". Vox. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  13. "Make Music Day – The Worldwide Celebration of Music". Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  14. "Make Music Around the World". Make Music Day. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. "The List: 19 Jun 1992". The List Archive. 19 June 1992. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  16. "About Make Music". Make Music Day. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. Carlsbad, CA (8 May 2018). "Grantee Spotlight: Australian Music Association". NAMM Foundation. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  18. "Make Music Day Australia". APATA - The Australian Performing Arts Teachers Association. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  19. Briggs, Maddy (21 June 2023). "Make noise for Make Music Day in 2023!". Limelight. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
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