World Music Day – History and Significance

World Music Day

Music is the skill of composing a composition by organising sounds in time using the elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. It is one of the cultural aspects of all human communities that are universal.

Music has the ability to accomplish almost anything. It has the ability to make you feel emotions to which you may not have previously been connected. Not only that, but music has the ability to heal you in the most difficult of circumstances.

World Music Day, also known as Fete de la Musique, is a one-of-a-kind international music festival held on June 21. Music Day, or Make Music Day, is another name for it. Young and amateur musicians are frequently encouraged to play on this day.

On World Music Day, anyone can play their favourite instruments in public parks and open places for the enjoyment of others. Free concerts and other musical activities are organised by music enthusiasts. The Summer Solstice, another fantastic day for feasts and festivities, often falls on the same day as World Music Day.

Who is the originator of World Music Day?

The first World Music Day was held in France on the Summer Solstice in 1982. Jack Lange, the then-French Minister of Culture, was the one who established the Fete de la Musique in Paris. Maurice Fleuret, another well-known music composer, was also influential in establishing a day dedicated to music. Music Day has since spread to every country on the planet.

In October 1981, Maurice Fleuret was appointed Director of Music and Dance at the Ministry of Culture at Jack Lang’s request. He put his ideas about music practise and evolution to use. He described it as “music everywhere and no concert anywhere.” In 1982, he researched the cultural habits of five million French citizens.

He discovered that one out of every two young people played a musical instrument. He began to fantasise about bringing this community’s talent to the streets. As a result, in 1982, the Fete de la Musique was held for the first time in Paris. Before all of this, American musician Joel Cohen, who worked for a French radio station in the 1970s, came up with the concept.

Since its inception in 1982, the music festival has grown into an international phenomenon held on the same day in numerous countries across the world. This music festival is held in over 700 places in 120 countries around the world. India, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom are just a few of the countries where this festival has got a lot of attention.

The festival became an international sensation after the initial Music Day celebrations in Paris. World Music Day is observed in India, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Malaysia, and a few more nations. Both new and seasoned musicians are taking to the streets to “create music.”

Free concerts are organized on World Music Day to ensure that music is accessible to all. The streets of Paris are alive with the sound of all kinds of music on this particular day. During the Fete de la Musique, Paris and other parts of France enjoy a surge in tourist traffic. Fests, parades, fairs, feasts, and dance parties give the Music Day a varied flavour.

It is an annual gathering that honours both amateur and professional musicians on June 21st. Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform on this day.

The major goal of World Music Day is to make music available to everyone for free, as well as to encourage amateur artists to share their work with the rest of the world. Music is useful to us, since research and experts have discovered that it reduces stress, improves sleep, and is known to benefit persons with mental health concerns.

It helps individuals work out and exercise more effectively, and the correct music can even help people concentrate and focus better.

The goal of World Music Day is also to promote music in two ways: amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to play in public. The campaign’s motto is “Make Music” (“Faites de la Musique”). Many free concerts are held, making all types of music available to the general audience.

There are two important points to note here: all of the concerts will be free of charge, and the artists will play at these events for no price. The main goal of this international day is to make music freely available to everybody, encouraging them to study and enjoy this art form.

While World Music Day is all about outdoor and public concerts, the prospects of any public gathering this year look slim due to the Coronavirus pandemic, global lockdowns and social isolation.

To commemorate World Music Day, a number of organisations and businesses are hosting virtual concerts, dance workshops, and competitions.