On the summer solstice of each year, all of France and most of Europe unites in celebrating a language that transcends all borders – MUSIC!!! Thursday, June 21 was the date forecasted to be 2007’s longest day and in turn the much anticipated “Fête de la Musique”! Starting in the early afternoon, international bands, regional performers, and even local artists began assembling in every street corner, sidewalk, or plaza. Although this symphonic celebration happened to fall in the middle of our busy, mid-term week, it’s amazing how much a city-wide party can motivate students to get the job done early.

At 7 pm, the streets began to fill with thousands of music-lovers, tourists, and a unique mélange of melodies produced by the proximity of each performer to another.

Along the 440 meters of Cours Mirabeau, the long main street of Aix, about two dozen bands and singers lined up practically on top of each other. Numerous music festivals mark the American cultural landscape every season, but the unique element of this panoply of art was the manner in which every quartier, neighborhood, winding street, or sidewalk contributed to this city-wide symphony. From French hard-rock to African drummers to folksingers to Moroccan performers to a Brazilian Samba band that marched through the streets, the entire population engaged in this musical jubilee until 3 o’clock in the morning!

Overcome by the plethora of options, the groups split up and traversing the waves of people and sound at their own discretion. The group of four I wandered with participated by jumping into the yellow-shirted Brazilian army of performers that snaked through every small rue and boulevard to share their thunderous music with the people of Aix. By the time we had reached Cours Mirabeau, behind us we had formed a gargantuan cha-cha line of followers seduced by the exciting energy and fun of the group.  Quel nuit de musique!