On every Odysseys Unlimited small group tour, you’ll enjoy opportunities to meet and learn from gracious local people. These cultural exchanges range from a tea ceremony in Japan, to an Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime walk, to an early morning spent giving alms to local monks in Laos, to name a few. And while every destination boasts unique and fascinating traditions, almost all of them share a common storytelling language: music.
In this blog post, we highlight 11 small group tours that offer can’t-miss musical experiences, from a private sitar performance to a heart-pounding military tattoo inside a Scottish castle. Scroll down to read.
Known for its rhythmic tempo, classic themes, and close ties to traditional forms of Irish dance, Celtic music emanates from jukeboxes and live bands in Irish pubs around the world – especially on or around St. Patrick’s Day. However, while you certainly can hear Irish music performed close to home, there’s no substitute for singing along as a band tears through “Whiskey in the Jar” at a pub in the heart of the Irish countryside. Guests on our Enchanting Ireland tour have several opportunities to enjoy live Celtic music in local pubs, both with the group and on their own time. In the video above, Odysseys employee Caity H. caught Galvian Way covering a classic Boston tune just a few weeks ago on her trip to Ireland!
Characterized by haunting melodies and melancholy lyrics telling tales of love and loss, life on the high seas, and the struggles of the poor, fado is a style of traditional Portuguese folk music that first appeared in the early 19th century. Fado music prominently features the Portuguese guitar, a pear-shaped instrument with 12 steel strings and a long, narrow mouth that give it a distinctive sound. While in Lisbon, guests on our Discovering Portugal tour will enjoy a private fado performance (seen above), while those on Across Spain and Portugal and Paradores & Pousadas have the option to venture out to a local club to see traditional fado music performed firsthand.
In the Vodun religion, the Zangbeto are believed to be mysterious “guardians of the night,” acting as protectors and spiritual mediators for their communities. Decked out in large wooden masks and colorful dyed straw, the Zangbeto rise up to 10 feet in the air during their acrobatic dances, mimicking the movements of a snake as they perform rituals meant to guard the village from evil spirits and malicious people. We take in a Zangbeto mask dance performance when we visit a remote Benin.
Known for its unique sound, the sitar – a mainstay of Hindustani classical music – first appeared in the 18th century in the Mughal Court as a fusion of sorts between the three-stringed Persion setar and the Indian veena. During our touring in Varanasi, we call upon the home studio of a famous sitar player for a private performance. The studio is also a music school, and we may hear other locals practicing their craft on this instrument that evokes its home region perhaps more strongly than any other on Earth.
"Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic performs Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5. Conducted by Ronald Zollman" by jiuguangw is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Considered by many to be the birthplace of classical music, Austria has produced many of history’s greatest composers, from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Franz Schubert to Ludwig van Beethoven. Austria remains a classical music hotbed to this day, playing host to the annual Salzburg Festival – one of the world’s preeminent music and drama festivals – every summer.
Guests on our Journey through Central Europe small group tour will enjoy two musical interludes: a classical piano recital in Warsaw, and a classical concert in Vienna, one of the world’s most musical cities.
On Alpine Splendor: Switzerland and Austria, guests enjoy a chamber music performance inside the Mirabell Palace. Plus, select departures will afford guests the opportunity to be in Salzburg during the Salzburg Festival, a city-wide, five-week music and drama festival first held in 1920.
The history of Great Highland bagpipes traces back to the 14th century, when records indicate that “warpipes” were played at the Battle of the North Inch in 1396. However, while most closely associated with Scottish culture, bagpipes were used throughout much of Asia, Africa, and Europe before they ever arrived in Scotland, with many experts believing the instrument originated in Egypt around 400 BCE.
Guests on select summer departures on both our Scotland: Highlands and Islands and Journey through Britain tours will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience: the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This nighttime spectacle, put on in the courtyard of Edinburgh Castle, features pipe and drum performances and cultural showcases from around the world.
"Choreographed Opera Performance (Carmen by Bizet)" by Sb2s3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Opera – much like classical music – has had an outsized impact on the evolution of Western civilization, integrating music, drama, poetry, and design aesthetics to create a moving and immersive experience for the audience. Guests on our Italy’s Classic Cities small group tour will be treated to an opera performance at a palace near our hotel in Verona.
If any of these musical experiences strike a chord with you, we invite you to explore the tour pages linked above and submit a reservation request. We look forward to enjoying some tunes with you on the road!
Share your great adventures with us on social media. Tag your pictures with #myodyssey and they may be featured on our website!
By using this website you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
