WORLD MUSIC DAY

Every year numerous countries across the world celebrate the phenomenon of music...a phenomenon which surpasses all boundaries,heals souls,connects hearts and sends vibrations of utter positivity and junoon through each and every nerve and sinew of men of all orders and classes.This celebration of notes and rythms,raag and taal,accelerato to bisbigliando takes place on 21st June which marks a solstice. 

It was American musician Joel Cohen who gave the concept of an all-day musical celebration on the days of the solstice.He spent two seasons as a producer of musical radio programs for the French National Radio in the 1970s.The idea later was adapted as a national celebration on each June 21 in France and made official by the French Minister of Culture,Jack Lang.

In October 1981, Maurice Fleuret became Director of Music and Dance at Jack Lang’s request.He applied his reflections to the musical practice and its evolution.When he discovered, in a 1982 study on the cultural habits of the French, that five million people-and to top that- one child out of two, played a musical instrument, he began to dream of a way to bring people out on the streets.

It was first celebrated in 1982 in Paris as the "Fête de la Musique" and is currently celebrated the world over as "World Music Day". 

It is celebrated with the concept of  "music everywhere and the concert nowhere".To show that music doesn't only belong to professionals,amateur musicians besides professionals are encouraged to perform free on the streets and other public places.In Paris,this is done under the slogan "Faites de la musique" which means "make music". The Fête de la Musique organization has been established in Paris especially for this festival.

On this day,all concerts are free to the public and all performers perform for free making all genres available to the public...the only eligibility being burning passion for music...a desire to wrap yourself in the soothing waves of music and get lost.

Now, many countries recognize this day as an important one in their calender and observe it with the democratic spirit associated with World Music Day.India with it's huge cultural diversity is not one to be left behind.After all,India has one or the other festival being celebrated in some corner at any given time and music is an inseparable part of a festivity.Even on World Music Day,the celebrations are on in full swing.Be it Rabindra Sangeet flowing in from the east or the dhols echoing from west,Carnatic classical music vibrating from the south or Hindustani classical music reverbrating from the north, the salubrious oscillations of earth's healthiest sounds echo all around.

Vadodara,where I reside,being the cultural capital of Gujarat has it's music loving citizens celebrating this day enthusiastically.So,apart from numerous free concerts, the famous park Kamatibaug is stage to numerous groups performing all over in the park and a large audience which not only speculates but also join in the singing with great ebullience.

Well,whatever the reason for celebration,there are always limits and so does World Music Day by having restrictions on volume levels and time limits.

But for World Music Day 2015,the night is still young and music is waiting to be celebrated...So,get there into the fervor and feast your eardrums on the choicest beats.

Till then, Joyeux Fête de la Musique!!!