{"id":894,"date":"2024-06-27T14:16:06","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T14:16:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.ieimedia.com\/2024arles\/?p=894"},"modified":"2024-06-27T14:22:39","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T14:22:39","slug":"arles-finds-its-rhythm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.ieimedia.com\/2024arles\/arles-finds-its-rhythm\/","title":{"rendered":"Arles tunes in"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By The Arles Project Staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arlesians gathered in the city\u2019s many plazas to enjoy performances from local musicians and students June 21 as part of the nationwide F\u00eate de la Musique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dIt\u2019s alive,” said Arles resident and music student Maria Del Mar. \u201cIt is the moment to be. You are concentrating on what you are doing and people are watching and feeling you and exchanging with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dancers at Place Genive. Photo by Thomas Murphy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

F\u00eate de la Musique has annually animated French streets every June 21 since 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, students from Conservatoire du Pays d\u2019Arles, a local music school, showcased their musical talents at Le Capitole in La Roquette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eldest of the three sisters, Judith, aspires to specialize in classical music. However, for her, the fun is in the familial aspect of her musical endeavors. \u201cIt\u2019s very nice playing with my sisters because I can help them. I really like when we can practice together and play all together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Judith and Madeleine Drilleau. Photo by Elizabeth Coleman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Helping her band, The Sheshs, set up, Lisa Guibaud said that this festival is great for the city because it attracts even more tourists to Arles. \u201cIt makes the city alive, so it is really cool,\u201d Guibaud said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At La Place Voltaire, children gathered to watch and even perform. \u201cIf I am in France and there is la F\u00eate de la Musique, I go\u201d said Yodit Kebede, the mother of a young performer. Kebede has been attending the festival since her own childhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Children were as engaged as their parents. Photo by Solange Jain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Young students from a nearby music school came out to perform hit classic rock songs such as \u201cBoys Don\u2019t Cry\u201d by The Cure and \u201cSultans of Swing\u201d by Dire Straits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think people are drawn to the rhythm,” said Marco Xavier, who was taking in the scene. “Our bodies have a rhythm, too.” This sentiment was also seen in the west end of La Roquette, where residents gathered to sing, dance, and enjoy delicious food. Among the songs sung by the assembled choir was one titled \u201cGentrifica,\u201d a song that expressed local frustrations with the rising costs of housing due to the spread of Airbnbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guitar detail. Photo by Malcolm Taylor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Liam Franceschi is a twelve-year-old student at Studio Franceschi, a music studio in Arles, France. He has a variety of talents, including playing the piano, electric guitar and singing, which he has been doing for five years and counting. \u201cI started singing by myself and wanted to start learning the lyrics and sing with other people,\u201d Franceschi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His father, the director of the school, has taught him many skills. Liam doesn\u2019t have a favorite genre to play or sing to, but he does not enjoy French rap as much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Liam Franceschi and a fellow band member. Photo by Karla Valdez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The celebration brought a stream of business to cafes and restaurants such as Floris Artisan Glacier in the Place de Republique. \u201cIt is the opening of the season, it is the moment where people start to come and all and it is a festivity when all the bars and restaurants start to organize everything,\u201d said Pascal Jeom-Phillipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Bruno Arnold, Pascal Jeom-Philippe and Edwin Noel. Photo by Sophia Maxim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The day ended with a collective concert held by Rockette Records in front of the Saint-Trophime Primital Church in Place de la R\u00e9publique, with flashing lights, and fog for a rave. The featured performers were Makassa, Vax Populi, Bison Bison Falling Down, Salah, and DJ Transition. The energy of the crowd was electrifying with people standing on top of each other and screaming their hearts out all night long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The evening ended with a blast. Photo by Autumn DeGrazia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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