World Music Day

World Music Day, Make Music Day or Fête de la Musique is celebrated every year on 21 June in honour of musicians and singers. The day is celebrated to motivate aspiring, young and professional musicians to perform and support the love of music around the world. On this day, musicians take to the streets to perform for free and concerts and events are organised to thank them.

“The idea of music is to liberate the listener and lead him to a frame where he feels he is elevated” - AR Rahman

History:

World Music Day was first celebrated in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique. The then French Minister of Arts and Culture, Jack Lange, and Maurice Fleuret, a French composer, created the Fête de la Musique (Festival of Music) in the streets of Paris. Both realised that the music concerts were not representative of a large part of the young people who played instruments at that time. Together with the architect and scenographer Christian Dupavillon, they devised a plan to gather both amateur and professional musicians in the streets.

Fleuret, who was a composer, music journalist, radio producer and festival organiser, played a crucial role in initiating a day to celebrate music. The concert took place on 21 June 1982 at several public venues in Paris. On this day, professional and amateur musicians from the remotest corners of France performed.

Later, for the European Year of Music in 1985, other countries adopted this annual concert to celebrate music and all artists. As a result, a charter was signed in Budapest in 1997, the European Music Festival. Since then, this day has been celebrated internationally as World Music Day.

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” - Albert Einstien

Celebrations:

Over 120 countries are taking part in the World Music Day celebrations. Fête de la Musique concerts are organised in many countries, including France, India, Canada, the USA, Germany, China, Australia and others. At these festivals, admission is free and the musicians also perform for free.

Theme:

The theme of World Music Day 2022 is "Music at the Intersections". Music lovers are invited on 21 June 2022 to celebrate their love of music by participating in street festivals or simply listening to the music they love.

“To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?” - Michael Jackson