2026 talk:WikiOrchestra

Programme suggestions for Wikimania 2026

Let's start sharing ideas for Wikimania 2026:

Suggestions should be considered under the following criteria:

• ideally French music only (consider French baroque or impressionist music, French chanson, French jazz, French folklore)
• no longer than 4 minutes (we will need to shorten any longer selections)
• suitable for a small instrumental ensemble or choir (arrangements possible)
• ideally recognizable to the audience
• ideally easy to play or sing to avoid an overly long rehearsal

Gnom (talk) 13:35, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

• Claude Debussy: Clair de lune, no. 3 from Suite bergamasque (L. 75) (Youtube link)
  This is probably the most well-known piece of French music overall. It's obviously for solo piano only, so we could play an arrangement for small orchestra like we did for the Chopin Nocturne in Katowice (see Youtube link). There is a lot of tempo rubato throughout the piece, however, which would be a challenge. --Gnom (talk) 14:37, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

  This music is very well known in Japan. It's a great and would be perfect for this occasion. It would be great if harpist joined. Wadakuramon (talk) 03:25, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

• Django Reinhardt: Minor Swing (Youtube link)
  To my knowledge, this is the most famous piece of the French jazz and Gypsy jazz genres. The piece became famous through the film Chocolat. We would need a capable guitarist. What I am not sure about is how many people in the audience would recognise this piece – let me know what you think. --Gnom (talk) 14:37, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

  I think most Japanese people don't know this music. Wadakuramon (talk) 03:25, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

• Joe Dassin: Les Champs-Élysées (Youtube link)
  A hugely famous pop song/chanson about the beauty of Paris. We could perform a choral arrangement (see Youtube link). Maybe we can (partly) rewrite the lyrics as Oh Wikipédia (with the French pronunciation) and make it a song about 25 years of Wikipedia? Also, please tell me what you think about the 'recognisability' of the melody from your own cultural background. --Gnom (talk) 14:37, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

  This song was a hit in Japan as well, and is well known. However, young people today may not know it. Wadakuramon (talk) 03:26, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

• Maurice Larcange (attributed): Valse-Musette (known as 'Happy Day in Paris') (Youtube link)
  This is one of those pieces that everybody can recognise, but nobody knows it by name. When people hear it, they instantly think about Paris. We would obviously need to ask Kaarel to play the accordion solo. Maybe we can also just play this for a few seconds as a little joke – or we could even do a 'History of French music' mashup? --Gnom (talk) 14:37, 31 August 2025 (UTC)

  I also think most Japanese people don't know this music. Wadakuramon (talk) 03:26, 15 September 2025 (UTC)

• Jules Massenet: Méditation from Thaïs (Youtube link)
  This is most probably the most famous piece of French romantic music, which could be easily arranged for our ensemble. --Gnom (talk) 16:44, 11 November 2025 (UTC)