La Fête de la Musique

Fête de la Musique

21 juin

I have been thinking about this wonderful day of music in Paris and all of France this week, knowing that today is "the day."  Two years ago I was in Paris with friends Marie, Virginia, and Mary and have special memories about the fun we all had that week, meeting new friends and on this day enjoying music all over the city.

Marie and I finished the day at Le Pré aux Clercs sitting on the terrace in front of the open windows enjoying the soft sounds of a jazz quartet.  L'heure bleue turned to a clear night filled with the sounds of music.

I will not be there this year but will try to enact a bit of that atmosphere at home. 

What a great celebration to welcome summer!

Le Pré aux Clercs

30, rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris



Basilique Sainte Clotilde

The Basilique Sainte Clotilde was built in the Neo-Gothic style and completed in 1857. It was reportedly the most fashionable church in 19th Century Paris and well-known for its Aristide Cavaillé-Coll organ.


For those who love classical music, it is interesting to note that César Franck inaugurated the organ playing his Final in B flat and J.S. Bach's Prelude and fugue in b minor. It is reported that every time Franz Liszt was in Paris, he would sit in the organ loft to hear Franck play his most recent compositions.

Basilique Sainte Clotilde
23 bis, rue Las Cases

NO CRÊPES FOR YOU!

Well, I did leave out an "erie" place with delectable food in my post from yesterday: crêperie! However, this is more a street-vendor than a true crêperie.

In June he was at the corner of St. Germain and rue Bonaparte, in front of St. Germain des Prés church, with a steady line of customers day and night. We saw him several times each day as we exited the Mètro St. Germain des Prés. Certainly, it was necessary to have a banana and Nutella crêpe, but more than one?

I believe that Nutella is originally from Italy, but crêpes on the street just screams Paris to me! I carried jars home from Paris until I realized that the magic of the internet would bring this nectar right to my door. Even Delta Airlines has little individual packets in their club rooms now. Well, they did until someone (?) scarfed them all! Miam-miam.....

La Fête de la Musique -- un quartet de jazz

(photo above courtesy of Marie -- merci)

What a great idea -- music on every corner, in every church, and in every café for the summer solstice on 21 juin. This year the jazz quartet at Pré aux Clercs (on the corner of rue Jacob and rue Bonaparte) attracted a large crowd as did the well-known Les Deux Magots only a block away. All of Paris (and all of France) was full of music this day.

Great way to celebrate the beginning of summer! Is there a celebration for the beginning of fall? As if I needed an excuse to return to Paris!