... and once more, Fête de la Musique

Not quite every year, but I have already reported on the “Fête de la Musique” a number of times, see here, here, here and here (and even here on my previous blog). So, I’m not going to repeat the history of this annual event when music is played in each corner, in each bar, on all the streets of the city. Here are again some photos, this time from the Marais and Les Halles districts.

Where I really spent some time was in a little chapel in the Marais, La Chapelle Sainte Marie, with pleasure listening to some Japanese performers - a group playing on bamboo flutes, a choir and a baritone singer accompanied on piano.  

Actually, the street where I live already offered a lot!

The perfect day for "Fête de la Musique"

I already showed the dusk hour top photo on Facebook, but I have a few more…

It’s obvious that the “Fête de la Musique”, celebrated June 21, the first day of summer, is a great success, having started in France in 1982 and now celebrated in some 110 countries. I have posted on it several times, sometimes about great concerts in the Paris city centre. This year I had a good reason to go to Montmartre and was surprised by the crowds. It was of course a perfect day – the weather couldn’t have been better, it was a Saturday, the French team had won their first two Soccer World Cup matches… and people were really in good mood.   

Before going to Montmartre I took a walk in my immediate neighbourhood, including the close-by parks.

I then took the direction of Montmartre and found this on my way.

You often meet crowds at Montmartre, but…  

Fête de la Musique again

Since a start in France in 1982, the "Fête de la Musique" seems now, each year, June the 21st, the soltice day, to be celbrated in some 100 countries!

I already made posts about it, as well on this blog as on my previous one.

This day is of course also linked to different originally pagan traditions. In Sweden, the Midsummer, or the Midsummer’s Eve, is a great day of festivities. This is the reason why the Swedish Institute in the Marais (see previous post) for a couple of years has taken the opportunity to combine both, Midsummer celebration and the Fête de la Musique, making use of the vast garden behind their fantastic 16^th century building.

It all starts with some children friendly folkloric singing and dancing around the “Midsommarstång”  (Maypole), later followed by some more “adult” music.

Thunderstorms were announced, but the sky stayed quite clear during the evening hours. On my way home, I listened to other groups – they are “everywhere”, passing by Rue de Rivoli, the Centre Pompidou… ending up at the Palais Royal ….

… before taking the last metro home, where we also got some nice entertainment.   

Fête de la Musique

The “Fête de la Musique” was organised for the first time in France in 1982. It is now celebrated in more than 100 countries. It takes place June 21, summer solstice. So, this year for the 30th time.

It brings out large crowds, especially in the evening hours and if the weather is correct. This year was a bit gray, but the evening was quite fine, just one local shower around midnight.

I made a tour of some events; you can’t see and listen to everything. All kinds of playing and singing take place in every street, in many bars and restaurants, in churches…

Here are some afternoon photos from the Luxembourg Gardens.

Some other shots from a bit “everywhere”.

There was of course music along the Seine banks, but also on many of the boats.

Early evening I went to the medieval Collège des Bernardins (see previous post) where a concert of Mongolian music was proposed. It’s of course very “special”, but I like a lot and the performing three artists, “Ensemble Enkjargal”, were just incredible! Below is a little sample of what it can sound like. There were some chairs, but most of us were sitting on the floor. A fantastic atmosphere! (I have now planned a visit to Mongolia, not only for the music, but also…)

Later in the evening I went to a concert given by the “Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France”, directed by Paavo Järvi. We listened to Schumann for about an hour. Again we were sitting on the floor. Guess where it took place? (See also top picture, where the orchestra is slightly mirrored.)

Coming back home, I could still enjoy the music from the nearby bars.

Fête de la Musique

Saturday was summer solstice and also, for the 27th time, "Fête de la Musique", now obviously known as “World Music Day”. It started in France in 1982 and is now spread to some 100 countries.

Concerts, for free, are given all over the city. Last year I made the tour to the more frequented places where the most renowned artists were performing and where most people go (see post). This year I decided to stay around the area where I live. However, early afternoon I passed in front of the home of our President, the Elysée Palace; and I realised that there was music inside, in the inner court, and that public was let in, exceptionally. When I arrived, the “Garde Républicain” just finished their part and some soft piano music took over. To my additional surprise, Nicolas and Carla, who were hosts, took a walk to meet the people. As expected, all the professional photographers were in the front line, but at the end they come up close to where I stood.

Later in the afternoon and until 3 Sunday morning I was back to “Batignolles” where I live. The weather was perfect, there were concerts all over, the streets and the cafés were jammed.

Normally, I will be back with a post Wednesday!