World Music Day 2023: Date, Significance, Quotes and Quiz

Life is one grand sweet song, so start the music. Music is an emotion, a feeling known to every part of society. In addition, it is a combination of melodies and harmony that gives a pleasant sound which is soothing. On World Music Day the amateurs and professional musicians are honoured equally. World Music Day is celebrated on June 21 annually all over the world.

World Music Day, also known as Music Day, Make Music Day or Fête de la Musique in French is celebrated across the world on June 21, annually. This day, all music lovers showcase their talents. As a result, they play music in their neighbourhood, on the streets, parks, beaches, stations, museums etc.  And some organizations conduct free concerts for the crowd, showcasing amateur and professional music talents. Therefore, this day is a day of fun and frolic for the musicophiles and melomaniacs.

World Music Day 2023 Date – June 21

This year, World Music Day is right around the corner, on Wednesday 21,2023. Music is to the soul, as food is to the body. Back in old age, people had to pay for listening to music, that is, they had to pay for tickets to musicals and concerts. So somewhere in France, the Ministry of culture came up with this idea to make music free for everyone. Further, to celebrate the vitality of the music. It’s in the year 1982, that the Ministry of Culture in France gave rise to free music to everyone no matter their culture, heritage or race. In short, marking this day as Fête de la Musique or the World Music Day.

World Music Day Theme 2023

World Music Day Theme 2023 is not announced yet.

In 2022, the World Music Day theme is “Music at the Intersections”. Also, this event is also named the ‘Make Music Day’ as it stresses the significance of fostering people’s affection and interest in music along with the intention of sharing music with everyone. Hence the free concerts and musicals organized this day.

Why do People Celebrate World Music Day?

The key aim of celebrating World Music Day is to provide free music to all and also promote the talents of amateur and professional musicians on a wide scale. This is hence, the best part of celebrating this special day. No matter what kind of music you love, you can get your family and friends involved and embrace Music Day by trying out a new musical instrument or listening to those kinds of music that you normally don’t listen to.

You might be thinking is there a need for a special day to listen to music when we do it every day. Why not? When the whole world can do something together, why not get involved and groove your way? So, hit play on an upbeat tune and dance like nobody’s watching. It will soothe your soul and you’ll enjoy it.

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The History of World Music Day

The origin of World Music Day goes back to the 1980s. During the time when French Minister of Culture Jack Lang perceived the idea of free music to all. Maurice Fleuret became Director of Music and Dance at the Ministry of Culture, in October 1981. The idea was first conceived by American musician Joel Cohen, a French composer, music journalist, arts administrator, festival organizer and radio producer. Joel was then working for a French Radio station. He wanted to conduct a jamming session of the bands all night to mark the beginning of the summer solstice. Ever since, the  Fête de la Musique became an international, sensational phenomenon as it was celebrated in more than 120 countries like China, Germany, India, Greece, Russia, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan and Ecuador.

The first Music Day was held on the streets of Paris which was a humongous success. After which it started gaining momentum in other parts of the country and outside it. In short, according to France’s Ministry of Culture, the Fête de la Musique has become an “event which mobilizes the musicians of the whole world for the pleasure of the audience of more than 120 countries, starting with the European countries”.

Purpose, Reach and Impact

World Music Day helps people to enjoy music in many different ways, celebrating music in all its form impacting the human spirit. Last year, thousands of cities celebrated this day. There are two prime focuses of celebrating  Fête de la Musique.

• Giving an opportunity to the amateur and professional musicians to give their best shot to perform in the streets, by making music.
• Organizing free music concerts and musicals thereby making all genres of music available to the public.

Although over 120 countries participate in Music Day and over 1000 cities participate across the world, the primary goal of World Music Day or Fête de la Musique is to deliver free music concerts and festivals across the world. And also to provide opportunities in making the public participate and contribute music with live performances.

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World Music Day 2023 Quotes

Scientists and experts have proven that music calms the body of stress and helps in relaxing the mind, helps people to sleep, reduces anxiety, helps people to work out and exercise with the right kind of music, rejuvenates the soul and much more. Let us delve into the path of music through some lovely quotes.

• “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” – Kahlil Gibran
• “Where words fail, music speaks.” – Hans Christian Anderson
• “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” -Elton John
• One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. ― Bob Marley
• Without music, life would be a mistake ― Friedrich Nietzsche
• “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” -Plato
• Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear. ― Ludwig van Beethoven

World Music Day 2023 Quiz

1) Name the Indian composer who received the Bharat Ratnam, India’s highest civilian honor, in 1999?

Answer: Ravi Shankar

2) Who won Padma Bhushan in the year 2010?

Answer: A R Rahman

3) Michael Jackson debuted his trademark moonwalk during which song in 1983?

Answer: Billie Jean

4) With which song did Lata Mangeshkar do her first Hindi playback?

Answer: Pa Lagoon Kar Jori re Shyam 

5) Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam used to play?

Answer: Veena

6) Whose tabla can we hear in the famous chasing Basanti sequence in the film Sholay?

Answer: Pt. Samta Prasad

7) Ancient tana with three swaras is called?

Answer: Samik

8) A musical scale containing five notes called?

Answer: Pentatonic scale

9) An excessive fondness for music is called?

Answer: Melomania

10) Which Shastra is called Pingal Shastra?

Answer: Chhanda

Even though World Music Day has been an outdoor activity and public-oriented performance all these years, there have been restrictions now since last month due to the onset of the Covid pandemic, global lockdowns, social distancing and the likes. However, the digital world is ramping with apps and software to promote music, dance and similar competitions to celebrate World Music Day.

In conclusion, turn up the music of your life and groove to the beat of your soul. Happy day peeps!