For many travelers music is a vital part of the experience. Songs are often linked to memorable moments that live with you forever. Across the globe music has stamped itself via various genres and styles that often fly under the radar. Take a look at a few overlooked musical locations that you should add to your travel lists.
*Guest writer Jessica Kane*
1. Music Row, Nashville, Tennessee
Not only have songs been written about it, but the title “Music Row” has been the unofficial name of the country music industry for over 50 years because it is universally seen as the heart and soul of country music as well as gospel in the Nashville area. You will find a multitude of publishing companies, recording studios, video houses, radio stations, and historical sites related to the country and gospel music industry, including the Ryman Auditorium known as the “Mother Church of Country Music” and the original Grand Ole Opry House. Learn more here.
2. Music and Ancient History in Caucasus, Georgia
If you are interested in the ancient art of polyphonic chant, then this journey is for you. You will hear it through the ancient culture of the Georgian region near the Black Sea close to Batumi and through Turkey and its cities of Kars, Ardanuc, Tbilisi, and more. You will hear this ancient music through liturgical chants in churches nestled in the mountains since the Middle Ages and restored, as well as in the city centers where concerts are regularly conducted and include melodious wedding chants and other popular modernized versions of the ancient musical art form. You can find out more here.
3. A Sound of Music Tour, Salzburg, Austria
One of the most famous musicals ever made was the 1964 classic, “The Sound of Music.” This was filmed in and around Salzburg, Austria. You can still visit many of the places that were used in the filming of the movie with each one associated with a particular song from the movie. Many bus tours will not stop at each site, so you can you could opt to create your own Sound of Music journey through the sites of Salzburg since most of them can be found within walking distance of each other. Some of the specific movie locations to visit are:
• Residenzplatz Square: This is where Julie Andrews, who played Maria Von Trapp sang the song “I Have Confidence in Me.”
• Mozartplatz: This statue was in the scene where all the Von Trapp children rode by in a horse-drawn carriage while singing, “Do-Re-Mi.”
• Petersfriedhof (St. Peter’s Cemetery): This was the hiding place for the entire Von Trapp family right after they had sung in the Salzburg Music Festival and then fled to freedom.
• Hohensalzburg Fortress (Vine Tunnel): As part of the scene during the “Do-Re-Mi” song, the Von Trapp children run through this tunnel.
• Schloss Leopoldskron (exterior house) This home was used for all the scenes outside in the movie including the back terrace and lake which were integral to the first half of the movie.
• Schloss Leopoldskron (Gazebo): This is known as the Sound of Music Pavillion where the Von Trapp’s eldest daughter Liesl, and the messenger boy sang “I Am 16 going on 17” and Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer sang, “Something Good.”
4. Abbey Road Studios, London, England
Beginning with the graffiti-covered wall outside of the Abbey Road Studios, this music entity holds a legendary history of names within its walls. It is most known for being the recording studio of the Beatles from the early 60’s through 1970 when the studio was renamed after one of the Beatles most famous albums named after the street the studio was on. But in the late 1950’s this studio was the hub of the advent of rock and roll with musical icons like Cliff Richard and his band The Drifters and later The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, and Pink Floyd who recorded there exclusively in the 1960s through the 1970s.
It is widely known today as the place where many films have been scored including the films of the Lord of the Rings series, Star Wars, and Raiders of the Lost Ark many of which were recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of John Williams.
5. Preservation Hall, New Orleans, LA
In the world famous French Quarter, you can find this hub for jazz and take in one of many concerts that are performed each night. The roots of jazz in this region go as far back as when jazz was first introduced in America. Preservation Hall itself was founded by a group of artists in the 1950s as an art gallery. The original owner, Larry Borenstein, found that he could not keep his art gallery open and also attend all the jazz concerts he loved so much. So, he decided to incorporate the two art forms and offered musicians the chance to perform at his hall and perform impromptu sessions of jazz. It has been that way ever since. You can find out more here.
Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Documents International LLC, a leading apostille service for individuals and businesses.