Paris, the city of people in Love. The city of beautiful romantic stories. The city of creativity, fashion, music and art. I’ve visited it recently for the first time in my life and was so mesmerized that couldn't but dedicate a small post to it :)
Before proceeding to the music of Paris, let me write a couple of facts here that surprised me about this little charming paradise.
1. Paris the name of which derives from an old tribe Parisii is also known as “the city of lights” – but it is not explained by the big amount of lighting in the streets or at the bridges over Seine (90% of them are lit) but rather by the big number of intellectuals that live there.
2. Surprisingly, neither the Eiffel Tower nor the Louvre are the city’s most visited sights. Disneyland Paris is! 13 mln tourists annually (compared to ~5 mln visits for Eiffel or Louvre).
3. French baguette is not just an association with Paris but its symbol that has its very strict measurements: 65 cm in length and 6 cm in width – otherwise, it’s not a French baguette!
4. By the time of the great revolution, only 15% of the citizens spoke French as a native language – 75% didn’t! Maybe that’s why + a massive inflow of immigrants is the reason why you can hear/see such a mixture of various nationalities in the streets of Paris.
Paris would not be the city of art if it wasn’t the home of some of the world’s most outstanding composers. To start the list with the names of Berlioz, Bizet, Debussy, Faure, Lully, Ravel, Saint-Saens is just a warm-up! Those are the natives, and what if we start remembering how many music pieces have been dedicated to Paris during the lifetime. Here is a lovely tune for 12 cellos that was created in the love for this city as well. The wonderful thing is that you can be just strolling in the center of the city quietly and come across a professional musician just sitting out there at the corner and playing his beloved instrument for you.
Paris, I’m already in love with you and I’m surely coming to see you once again!
Before proceeding to the music of Paris, let me write a couple of facts here that surprised me about this little charming paradise.
1. Paris the name of which derives from an old tribe Parisii is also known as “the city of lights” – but it is not explained by the big amount of lighting in the streets or at the bridges over Seine (90% of them are lit) but rather by the big number of intellectuals that live there.
2. Surprisingly, neither the Eiffel Tower nor the Louvre are the city’s most visited sights. Disneyland Paris is! 13 mln tourists annually (compared to ~5 mln visits for Eiffel or Louvre).
3. French baguette is not just an association with Paris but its symbol that has its very strict measurements: 65 cm in length and 6 cm in width – otherwise, it’s not a French baguette!
4. By the time of the great revolution, only 15% of the citizens spoke French as a native language – 75% didn’t! Maybe that’s why + a massive inflow of immigrants is the reason why you can hear/see such a mixture of various nationalities in the streets of Paris.
Paris would not be the city of art if it wasn’t the home of some of the world’s most outstanding composers. To start the list with the names of Berlioz, Bizet, Debussy, Faure, Lully, Ravel, Saint-Saens is just a warm-up! Those are the natives, and what if we start remembering how many music pieces have been dedicated to Paris during the lifetime. Here is a lovely tune for 12 cellos that was created in the love for this city as well. The wonderful thing is that you can be just strolling in the center of the city quietly and come across a professional musician just sitting out there at the corner and playing his beloved instrument for you.
Paris, I’m already in love with you and I’m surely coming to see you once again!
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