Fête de la Musique - le solstice d'été

Fête de la Musique
June 21

Celebrating the summer solstice in Paris is an experience beyond
imagination with every street corner, church, bar, park,
and even the pedestrian bridges filled with music and musicians of all genres.


Le Pré aux Clercs was just on our corner
and the perfect way to sit on the terrace and watch the sun set...
at 11:00pm


Make plans for tomorrow...
wherever you may be.

Le Pré aux Clercs

30, rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris

Fête de la Musique!

 

 

Fête de la Musique

 

 

If you are in France, you are surely enjoying the music today.  In Paris the streets, parks, and churches are filled with music of all genres.  I will never forget the delightful close of a very busy day as we sat on the terrasse of Pré aux Clercs and listened to the wonderful sounds of smooth jazz.  As you can tell from this photo, the jazz quartet was a visual delight as well.

 

 

For the summer solstice,

have a celebration with food and music,

centered on family and friends

 

 

 

Pré aux Clercs

rue Jacob et rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris



 

 

 



musicien de rue

Street Musician

His lilting song

was equal to the twinkle in his eye

Place Furstenberg

75006, Paris

Boulevard Saint-Germain - le marché

Booths along Bd Saint-Germain

The colors in this booth caught my eye, 

but it was only just now that I noticed two souvenirs 

I should have purchased that day.  

I see the vélos in many bright shades and just below... 

are those miniature 2CVs*?!

* 2CV = deux chevaux-vapeur

Weekend street (sidewalk) market

Bd Saint-Germain at Rue Bonaparte

75006, Paris

 

Fête de la Musique - Place de Furstenberg

Fête de la Musique 2010

The guitarist

Perhaps one of thousands of musicians, 

the solo guitarist performed in the late afternoon in Place de Furstenberg, 

only steps from Eugène Delacroix' apartment (1857).  

Virginia, Marie and I encountered this guitarist in the quiet street 

and gave him our full attention.  

He willingly agreed to our photo shoot.

Place de Furstenberg

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

Fête de la Musique - solstice d'été

Summer Solstice

So what does the solstice d'été have to do with music?  In Paris and many parts of France the summer solstice is accompanied by a grand celebration of music, with all genres and forms.  You can visit the churches for special concerts, listen to street musicians in the squares and gardens.  The cafés have jazz quartets and pop music and everything in between.  The music begins early and extends to the wee hours of the morning.

"The musicians are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. It’s the reason why they are used to play in open air areas as streets and parks or in public buildings like museums, train stations, castles… Furthermore, the Fête de la Musique is a way to encourage the major music institutions (orchestra, operas, choirs, etc.) to perform outside their usual locations." (official site here)

This photo was taken of the "piano man" on June 21, 2010, Fête de la Musique, a wonderful day spent with friends soaking up beautiful weather and a variety of music.  

Wish I was there today.

Pont Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

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



La Fête de la Musique

Last year we were all there for the summer solstice, listening to a jazz quartet, enjoying the cool breeze of the evening on the café terrace for my last night in Paris.

Wish I was there today.

Enjoy, my French friends, as I am there in spirit.

Les chanteurs américains -- Oui ou non?

In June, I spied these two chanteurs who had gathered quite a crowd, or should I say young groupies, on a Friday afternoon on Rue St. Antoine. What do you think? Are they French, American, or are you willing to go out on a limb and tell me another nationality? How can you tell?

I'll give you a hint, they were singing tunes from the 60s.

I'm off on an adventure with Nanette to find some castanets -- I will still be posting daily but with fewer comments until I return.

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!