Adolphe Adam (1803-1856), composer of O Holy Night, once observed, In Paris, at the hub of the arts, one cannot enter a church without being followed by one or sometimes two serpents. Most believe the bewitching instrument he was referring to was invented around 1590 by French priest Edm Guillaume of St. Steven Auxerre Cathedral to add a fuller baritone/bass voice to his choir. The serpent consists of a wooden tube carved as two half-rounds, glued together and then firmly wrapped with a coil of veal skin or other leather to make it airtight. The most common version needs to be about six feet long,...

The violin can quite easily be considered one of the noblest stringed instruments whose notes have mesmerized generations of music lovers. Its origin is quite obscure, the general belief being that it originated in Asia and was perfected in Europe. Three other stringed instruments that form the violin family are the viola, the violoncello (or cello) and the double bass (or bass). The violin itself is a very graceful instrument. Its parts are made of different kinds of wood. The belly, bass bar, and the sound post are made of spruce wood; the back, ribs, neck and bridge are made of maple; the fingerboard,...

Looking for band members is never an easy task. You may first want to ask yourself what exactly youre looking for whether it is to join an existing band or find individual members to start your own band. Obviously, both have their differences and this should be answered first before you start your grueling search. Join an existing band.This is a great way for enthusiastic musicians to gain some playing experience right away, although it is sometimes harder to find these kinds of opportunities. These are established bands that are looking for single or multiple members for various reasons (their...

Energized by his success of the 68 TV Special and the fact that he “still had it” in front of a live audience, Elvis then fell into one of those great bits of serendipity that would become a hallmark of his recording career. Influenced by his Memphis Mafia buddies who had connections to American Recordings studio in Memphis, in 1969 Elvis decided to skip returning to Nashville and to record in his hometown for the first time since 1955. The resulting sessions, directed by producer/studio owner Chips Moman and initially released as “From Elvis in Memphis” now ranked just...

Starting her music career at a tender age of 8, Lara Fabian knew that she would become a singer one day. She also emphasized this on her show From Lara with Love, broadcasted by PBS, when she told the audience about her encounter one day when she drove with her dad and vocalized exceptional high notes she heard on the radio, without any problems. This is where she knew she would become a singer one day. It is not everyday you get such a talented, vibrant person and it is these artists that fans love all over the world. She has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and a beautiful personality. Everything...

Picking out what you want for your very first guitar is a difficult and tricky choice. You probably do not know a lot about guitars to begin with, and with the thousands of selections available, it is easy to be confused.The first decision involves choosing between either an electric or acoustic guitar. Once you have made that choice, the next thing you have to do is to determine the budget that you are comfortable with. If you are really serious about learning, it is recommended that you avoid buying a cheap and low-quality instrument, as such guitars tend to impede your learning. When it comes...