The Ancient Alphorn’s Mellow Melody

The alphorn (or alpenhorn) is a natural wooden aerophone traditionally used by the mountain folk in Switzerland (Alps), and elsewhere. These lengthy horns were used to communicate in mountainous regions and across vast distances as well as announce daily activities in the village. Herdsmen used these horns to communicate to each other during herding activities. In medieval times, alphorns were sometimes used as substitutes for church bells and as signal warnings for military purposes. Alphorn-like instruments are said to date as far back as the 2nd century!

The modern alphorn is usually carved from an acoustically suitable softwood such as spruce or pine. In former times, the alphorn maker would find a tree bent at the base in the shape of the alphorn-to-be, but modern alphorns are carved in several pieces which, when assembled, can extend 10 to 14 feet or more. The instrument is often ornately decorated with graphics, carvings, and bells and is supported by small feet located under the bell (the curved end).

The alphorn has a four-octave range with no keys, valves, slides, or lateral openings, meaning that it is not a chromatic instrument. Instead, it can only produce the pitches in its overtone series. The alphorn’s fundamental pitch is relative to the inner-diameter of the mouthpiece vs the length of the instrument. In the same manner as brass instruments, sound is produced through vibrating the lips.

Sources: Music.vt.edu, Wikipedia