The idea of World Music Day was conceived by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang in 1981. In the same year he appointed Mr. Maurice Fleuret (composer, music journalist, radio producer, arts administrator) as the Director of Music and Dance. Mr. Maurice Fleuret applied his reflections on musical practice and its evolution and lays the foundations of a new conception: “Music will be everywhere and the concert nowhere” ! He evokes a revolution in the field of music, which tends to bring together all music – without a hierarchy of genre or origin.
Later during a study on the cultural habits of the French in the year of 1982, he discovered, out of five million people, one young person out of two, played a musical instrument. This paved a way for her idea & dream to bring out the people on to the streets and play music. And thus, the music playing began and it first took place on June 21st 1982 in Paris, France as the “Fete de la Musique” meaning “festival of music”.
Since then, the day has been celebrated every year as the World Music Day as this festival has become an international phenomenon now, being celebrated in more than 700 cities in 120 countries, including India.
The main aim for celebrating the World Music Day was to honor both amateur and professional musicians and also to make all genres of music accessible to the public.
The “Fête de la Musique” is also the bearer of new musical trends: revival of traditional music, explosion of world music, development of choirs, appearance of rap, techno, urban music, etc. The “Fête de la Musique” thus naturally promotes visibility and access to artistic and cultural practices and manifests every year its ability to spread, progress and continue indefinitely .