Fête de la Musique!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPXjtmv0iDzlb2yaRjdPSVflgX0afrHrmXRUMeM1abx7EWC_KEH-7laEa2z6Bx2C_q983IRq-iRnooPqgVlLqhn8mXhC-u-d1b6hT1OmNbuOBnRf4zd5G0qIfxcO_4OVQuoMbMllTO8k/s1600/2010+June+21+00287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPXjtmv0iDzlb2yaRjdPSVflgX0afrHrmXRUMeM1abx7EWC_KEH-7laEa2z6Bx2C_q983IRq-iRnooPqgVlLqhn8mXhC-u-d1b6hT1OmNbuOBnRf4zd5G0qIfxcO_4OVQuoMbMllTO8k/s1600/2010+June+21+00287.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Fête de la Musique</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">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.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">For the summer solstice, </div><div align="center">have a celebration with food and music, </div><div align="center">centered on family and friends</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Pré aux Clercs</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>rue Jacob et rue Bonaparte</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>75006, Paris</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div>

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 fil...

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Fête de la Musique - solstice d'été

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyJ8_8dDWDLsC-s8jA051ZvOrpYDb8td6Wyysb-uGXKsRXbKyLCSFzyTtQWIyqpfs8h3x7cTPiFBCT3oCbBRN_u4Z1bdx9722_UZLccG_Zy-a15Cbcu95CoYx2FSbl4WU8KQU3n5ajM/s1600/2010+June+21+00116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfyJ8_8dDWDLsC-s8jA051ZvOrpYDb8td6Wyysb-uGXKsRXbKyLCSFzyTtQWIyqpfs8h3x7cTPiFBCT3oCbBRN_u4Z1bdx9722_UZLccG_Zy-a15Cbcu95CoYx2FSbl4WU8KQU3n5ajM/s640/2010+June+21+00116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Summer Solstice</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So what does the <i>solstice d'été</i> 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. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"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." (<a href="http://fetedelamusique.culture.fr/fr/edition-2013/presentation/" target="_blank">official site here</a>)</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">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.  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wish I was there today.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pont Saint-Louis</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">75004, Paris</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

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 accomp...

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La Fête de la Musique

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe6OlUxzXTO0xmNhJz5KzvWusaJHZxawKBvZPErdh1dIW-DVRVNYZtC3qRmK3S6aIG_ScqunqPBM8Mx5gFrtkP3fuNhc-XPLnIgqp7Swlz8hr0wYwBqjQIEk5vaaYE_EVCJ_2g5JR2-U/s1600/2010+june+21+00282cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYe6OlUxzXTO0xmNhJz5KzvWusaJHZxawKBvZPErdh1dIW-DVRVNYZtC3qRmK3S6aIG_ScqunqPBM8Mx5gFrtkP3fuNhc-XPLnIgqp7Swlz8hr0wYwBqjQIEk5vaaYE_EVCJ_2g5JR2-U/s640/2010+june+21+00282cropped.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fête de la Musique</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">21 juin</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">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.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">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.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will not be there this year but will try to enact a bit of that atmosphere at home.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What a great celebration to welcome summer!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Le Pré aux Clercs</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>30, rue Bonaparte</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>75006, Paris</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em></em></span></div>

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 i...

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La Fête de la Musique

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jyb3ZieiR6ku2z0gz6K4XZYkElCx3gLDLOq74ayG9GQ2L_SjdfPPjwrwvHZlzbFhY__KZbbjZyVo8hQYYEDYh8t5I8ir-cwGc5ho_8sWERrS2S8ENlrb1lkdlz82lYj8ixDWjcHKmOI/s1600/2010+paris+june+21+DSC_0016.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620499045237957778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jyb3ZieiR6ku2z0gz6K4XZYkElCx3gLDLOq74ayG9GQ2L_SjdfPPjwrwvHZlzbFhY__KZbbjZyVo8hQYYEDYh8t5I8ir-cwGc5ho_8sWERrS2S8ENlrb1lkdlz82lYj8ixDWjcHKmOI/s640/2010+paris+june+21+DSC_0016.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">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.</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Wish I was there today. </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Enjoy, my French friends, as I am there in spirit.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div>

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 terrac...

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La Fête de la Musique -- un quartet de jazz

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalRnirHgz_w_6UmuYcaODvDg1AxLhO2dwucl1R3arcOoYlOxzxRU_zGnwyBuYbS6dV4riTvZ4yQj6suJHM7hgg1LGpnvD_yfPg2hUJfs5ormwmw-LwTmc2Y-cJPU2eeUjGDcqpvFQT_U/s1600/IMG_4322.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498803769673890450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalRnirHgz_w_6UmuYcaODvDg1AxLhO2dwucl1R3arcOoYlOxzxRU_zGnwyBuYbS6dV4riTvZ4yQj6suJHM7hgg1LGpnvD_yfPg2hUJfs5ormwmw-LwTmc2Y-cJPU2eeUjGDcqpvFQT_U/s640/IMG_4322.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(photo above courtesy of Marie -- merci)</span></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>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.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>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 <em>Paris!</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0bi0RjSEe6xe5D8T9NBCbpo8xBrOEySRym67-lwwE9QQkpSFhQyH339zg_LTqJ_rtV6MtuZTPGZPVvauv9g93F2cfUq3kpFzf8dakJY7BK_QCc4tWrBIeUw7fFDR4FjC1fE9LuzOnaE/s1600/DSC_0005.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498799566717972850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0bi0RjSEe6xe5D8T9NBCbpo8xBrOEySRym67-lwwE9QQkpSFhQyH339zg_LTqJ_rtV6MtuZTPGZPVvauv9g93F2cfUq3kpFzf8dakJY7BK_QCc4tWrBIeUw7fFDR4FjC1fE9LuzOnaE/s320/DSC_0005.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHX3TbGUvdpDk4zqDCqRiS0Zmh0s77uZ3H7oE7I7fAu0-ZLTBFGAQXKre3BapufA9p_sviym76Vwl_CQQJzNUVLJhwmg39n5dRlbEw3P47wrSIm-DJCn5l5rsrnKTiVjuWlwZNMnnvfA/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797988786514978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHX3TbGUvdpDk4zqDCqRiS0Zmh0s77uZ3H7oE7I7fAu0-ZLTBFGAQXKre3BapufA9p_sviym76Vwl_CQQJzNUVLJhwmg39n5dRlbEw3P47wrSIm-DJCn5l5rsrnKTiVjuWlwZNMnnvfA/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSwSJdR3eSVE_GievasMQrkt7sFVnlCaw48TrV4GAfXizbZD7THvhJ2AmPjbr9TuG6b-I44e2fh6IOg4KxzxOh84GtNDPHvzrQ9-wLr7hpysVyQ7O1T1Bj2F86q9kVUeGAkxedweK0cE/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498797463769720434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSwSJdR3eSVE_GievasMQrkt7sFVnlCaw48TrV4GAfXizbZD7THvhJ2AmPjbr9TuG6b-I44e2fh6IOg4KxzxOh84GtNDPHvzrQ9-wLr7hpysVyQ7O1T1Bj2F86q9kVUeGAkxedweK0cE/s320/DSC_0011.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZBpcpO_EogIVS-Q-xU9PR7GQlvSJP2_NPlsre5bVlYgjZmoyjBZ6UD81jBaiSkoOHlbwhtFgGdxm3mMwXTzQoMfpZIr1nwjBcuk2KerVtMqn8-4LbyCyHCe_850li9TVSgWq07QC8p4/s1600/DSC_0013.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498796833642196306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZBpcpO_EogIVS-Q-xU9PR7GQlvSJP2_NPlsre5bVlYgjZmoyjBZ6UD81jBaiSkoOHlbwhtFgGdxm3mMwXTzQoMfpZIr1nwjBcuk2KerVtMqn8-4LbyCyHCe_850li9TVSgWq07QC8p4/s320/DSC_0013.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMDOC8ggA3KB4wodajtzDJrSmsfENEWqToUA_Z5so1AptRz8A7b6jH0eKU22RJD3IFiR9_OKA2IgZe3ZzRPF47uWtwwt67a__q3y81ItCKRn1mbqfx_XofnTjz3mwXn0qG3iozrSS5YY/s1600/DSC_0014cropped.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498796361292235490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMDOC8ggA3KB4wodajtzDJrSmsfENEWqToUA_Z5so1AptRz8A7b6jH0eKU22RJD3IFiR9_OKA2IgZe3ZzRPF47uWtwwt67a__q3y81ItCKRn1mbqfx_XofnTjz3mwXn0qG3iozrSS5YY/s320/DSC_0014cropped.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 273px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> </div>

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 solst...

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