A two-day music festival titled ‘Fête de la Musique 2015’, which is globally known as World Music Day, is going to kick off today in La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the city’s Dhanmondi area. Today, a number of young talented band groups will perform from 5pm to 9pm as a part of the first day of the festival, while a performance of Gazal and Saxophone will also be included as a special attraction of the event. On the other hand, the second day’s programme will feature several individual and group songs presented in Bangla, English and French by the students and teachers of French language as well as other cultural workshops (violin, guitar, piano) from 4pm to 8 pm tomorrow.
Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival that began in France in 1982. The idea was conceived by French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, in 1981. Since then June 21st has been celebrated every year in more than hundred countries in Europe and over the world as the World Music Day. Fête de la musique is a word game in French as Fête can be understood as ‘Celebration’ or ‘Play’ Music. It takes place in the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The concept of ‘Fête de la Musique’ is an open air and non-stop musical performances, to help making all sorts of music accessible to the public. It gives an opportunity to commune and share a special bond through music. This Music day allows the expression of all styles of music in a cheerful atmosphere. 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. These kinds of institutions can also welcome other types of music. In this way it offers an opportunity to develop exchanges between city centres and their outlying areas, to offer concerts in hospitals or in prisons, to promote encounters and exchanges between young musicians and well-known talents.
This event is open to all and entry is free.

Where:    La Galerie, AFD,
    26 Mirpur Road
When:    5pm–9pm, today; 4pm–8pm, tomorrow l