I am a music teacher that won a grant to explore the music of Switzerland and Northern Italy. I am looking for places to hear traditional music or see traditional dances - or even better, workshops on yodeling, playing alpine horns. We will be in Bern for 5 nights and can travel anywhere in that region during that time.
Thanks,
Kate
Gruezi, Kate!
When we were in Luzern 11/2019 we were fortunate to happen upon a noon concert at the Jesuit church that featured a female classical yodeling group. They were students at the Lucerne University of Applied Science, which has a program in classical yodel music. I suggest you contact the school as I would think they would be of great help in your quest!
info@hslu.ch
Here is more information about the music school there:
https://www.hslu.ch/en/lucerne-school-of-music/
They do have continuing education programs:
https://www.hslu.ch/en/lucerne-school-of-music/weiterbildung/
You can also take a look at myswitzerland.com > events > Customs and traditions.
For example
31st Federal Yodeling Festival
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/events/31-eidgenoessisches-jodlerfest-zug-2023/
Swiss Folk music festival in Gstaad
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/events/swiss-folk-music-festival-in-gstaad/
Many towns and villages have a local yodel club, here is one that I found in Bern, but there are lots of them all over. If you wanted to reach out to a few maybe you can get more information that way as well
I don't know about lessons on how to play one, but in Habkern (above Interlaken) you can see how alphorns are made
Be sure to visit this museum in the city center to learn about and play some traditional instruments.
https://klingendes-museum-bern.ch/en/
I hope you are in Bern on August 1, Swiss National Day when there are traditional music/competitions in every church in the city center.
What are your dates? A a Jodlerfest in Zug in mid-June (16-18) shows up on several of the links above.
Kate,
I saw a wonderful folk music performance in Appenzell when I visited there a few years ago. The Quartett at the beginning of this video was performing that night - http://www.laseyer.ch/index.php?id=21 .
I don't think the Quartett is performing at the present time, but the video has a number of different bands. One of the links in earlier replies in this thread should provide a list of what's happening this year.
We will be in Bern from June 27-July 3.
Thank you for the information, everyone!
Klosters is not exactly just down the street from Bern, it is in the Engadine.
But if you want modern Swiss and Austrian music there is a great 2 day Openair festival including Oeschs die Dritten (Mélanie is a yodler and singer, 3rd generation) and Melissa Naschenweng (well she's Melissa), Andy Borg and many others. https://www.oeschs-die-dritten.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Flyer-DINA5Vorderseite.jpg
Traditional background, modern execution....
