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)

  It’s a well-known and beautiful slow-tempo piece, especially in the opening section. The piece is also quite minor, around five minutes long, and includes extended pauses in the first part, which could make it harder to hold the attention of a large audience who may be talking and eating. Yet, the ending is quite magical and ultimately feels uplifting. Letherian3 (talk) 17:05, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

  It's not only for piano solo. Many orchestrations are available, e.g. https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_bergamasque,_CD_82_(Debussy,_Claude)#tabArrTrans TED (talk) 22:35, 22 July 2026 (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)

  It sounds beautiful, positive, and optimistic. In my opinion, its vibrant character fits the ceremony very well and matches the audience’s mood, especially since people will already be excited. Letherian3 (talk) 17:08, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

  I'm all in for that! − Pintoch (talk) 20:37, 18 February 2026 (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)

  It’s a very well-known song both in Ukraine and other countries, that became a hit. It has a positive, optimistic feel and would be a perfect fit for the ceremony, engaging both the musicians and the choir. Letherian3 (talk) 17:11, 30 January 2026 (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)

  It definitely reminds me of Montmartre, French films, and the atmosphere of France. Even if many people aren’t familiar with the piece itself or its author, the mood feels instantly recognisable. Can be used for an intermission. Letherian3 (talk) 17:14, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

  Sounds like a music I would hear in a restaurant. Robertsky (talk) 17:37, 13 June 2026 (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)
• Yann Tiersen’s: soundtrack from Amélie, e.g. La Valse d'Amélie (Youtube link) – from the famous French film Amélie, which stands out as a possibly good fit thanks to its positive, optimistic character and wider recognition. Letherian3 (talk) 17:39, 30 January 2026 (UTC)

  I think Yann Tiersen is a great idea and it is easy to play and make an arragement. Also, the songs aren't long :) --Carlillasa (talk) 14:48, 5 February 2026 (UTC).

  Thumbs up from me! − Pintoch (talk) 20:40, 18 February 2026 (UTC)

• The bilingual song, C'est si Bon (1947) (Youtube link) — composed by Henri Betti (1917-2005) with French lyrics by André Hornez (1905-1989) and English lyrics by Jerry Seelen (1912-1981) — was popularized globally by French singers Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972) and Yves Montand (1921-1991). I would believe that non-French attendees would much enjoy its jovial Francophile mood. — Buszmail (talk) 07:50, 29 April 2026 (UTC)

Composition of the 2026 WikiOrchestra

Hello, I just received confirmation that planning for the WikiOrchestra and WikiChoir can go ahead.

First, I would like to start putting together a list of the WikiOrchestra members so that we can see how many rental instruments we will need:

instrument	username	audio pickup	rental required?	sheet music (Debussy)	listening track (Debussy)	sheet music (pop piece)	listening track (pop piece)
flute 1	Adélaïde Calais	microphone (or clip-on)	1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
flute 2	Carlillasa	microphone (or clip-on)	1 C flute 1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
flute 3 (doubles flute 2)	Bastique	microphone (or clip-on)	1 music stand			Dropbox
clarinet/saxophone	Gnom	microphone	–	Commons		Dropbox
percussion	Buszmail	microphone	1 music stand	Commons	–
drums	Bobby Shabangu	–	1 (small) drum set, with drumsticks and jazz brushes 1 music stand	tacet	–	Dropbox
acoustic guitar 1	Auregann	microphone (or clip-on)	1 music stand	tacet	–
acoustic guitar 2 (doubles guitar 1)	Nesanya	microphone (or clip-on)	1 acoustic guitar
ukulele	Letherian3	microphone (or clip-on)	1 concert ukulele, 1 (ukulele) capo, 1 music stand	tacet	–
accordion	Gustave en résidence	clip-on microphone	1 music stand	tacet	–	Dropbox
piano	Lucas Werkmeister (Debussy)/ Amire80 (pop piece)	AUX	1 digital piano (with weighted keys) 1 music stand	IMSLP		Dropbox
violin 1	XanonymusX	clip-on microphone	1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
violin 2	Bennylin	clip-on microphone	1 violin (with mute)	Commons		Dropbox
violin 3	Andrew/Fuzheado	clip-on microphone	1 violin (with mute) 1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
violin 4 (or diatonic accordion)	Misosoof	clip-on microphone	1 violin (with mute)	Commons
cello 1	New York-air	microphone	1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
cello 2 (doubles cello 1)	DraconicDark	microphone	1 cello
double bass	Pintoch	microphone (or clip-on)	1 music stand	Commons		Dropbox
harp	TED	?	1 music stand	I have my own part	I will need a part

Please confirm your participation and any rental instrument requirements above. Thank you! Gnom (talk) 12:51, 28 April 2026 (UTC)

Composition of the 2026 WikiChoir

Hello – it is time to put together the WikiChoir! Please confirm your participation below. Thank you! --Gnom (talk) 20:05, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

vocal part*	username	sheet music	listening track
melody*	Auregann	Dropbox (melody only) Dropbox (all voices)	sample recording
	OwlyKnight
	Sannita
	Narumi
	Lucy
	Rruunnaa
	Rombituon
	joycewikiwiki
alto*	Ferfive	Dropbox	backing track sample recording
	Sukkoria
	Delphine
	Poslovitch
bass*	Lucas Werkmeister	Dropbox	backing track sample recording
	Seewolf
	Misosoof
	Bennylin
	Pymouss
	Igallards7
	bastique
	Najla Khairani Siregar

*There will be three vocal parts:

• melody (recommended for high female voices and for less experienced singers regardless of gender)
• alto (recommended for more experienced singers with female voices)
• bass (recommended for more experienced singers with male voices)

Gnom (talk) 20:05, 21 June 2026 (UTC)

Thanks for the great work!

Would it be possible to have a score with the three vocal parts together. I'm a bit lost to sing when I don't see the other parts. If it's not easily doable for you, I can do it. Pymouss (talk) 19:06, 9 July 2026 (UTC)

I can do both alto and the melody for Oh, Wikipedia!, but altos are less in number so that's why I'm joining their ranks (and the melodic range is right in my voice range too) :) --Poslovitch (talk) 22:07, 13 July 2026 (UTC)

Thank you for raising this, Pymouss, I added a combined file above. --Gnom (talk) 17:58, 20 July 2026 (UTC)

@Gnom please add @Joycewikiwiki to either soprano or alto. I would like to take bass voice as well. Robertsky (talk) 13:21, 24 July 2026 (UTC)