Press kit Alphorn 2015

The alphorn Press kit

Press contact Nendaz Tourisme

Emilie Lambiel T +41 27 289 55 89 F +41 27 289 55 83

[email protected]

The harmony between

the alphorn and Nendaz 1

International Festival

24th to 26 th of July 2015 3

Initiation lessons 5

Nendaz, in the heart of

the Alps 6

Manufacturing techniques 7

The alphorn’s history 9

Press trip 11

Special packages, pictures, music 12

Summary

A strong link between friends

A real love story unites Nendaz with the

alphorn. This Alpine instrument has been

an integral part of our region for a very

long time.

A tradition for the people of Nendaz

Nendaz and the alphorn have already

shared a true love story for over more than

25 years. This instrument has, in fact,

become an important player in Nendaz’s

promotional and entertainment activities.

A family history

Aimé Devènes, passionate about music

and a brass band director for 25 years,

began blowing down an alphorn with great

joy. Soon he began to share this passion

with the other members of his family. At

present two of his children and two of his

grand-children have become part of the

troop, as well as many of his friends.

A group of people from Nendaz

The circle of alphorn lovers widened

quickly and a group of local players was

formed. This group is mainly made up of

musicians coming from the local brass

bands. « Les Nendards » have now

become the Valais region’s heartbeat to

alphorn playing.

“Friends, people of Nendaz, let us listen to the deep and rich song of the alphorn, its music echoing through our valleys as if to reunite us for a true moment of simplicity that our commune will, as is its custom, transform into a moment of pure happiness”. Francis Dumas President of Nendaz

The harmony

between the alphorn and

Nendaz

1

A tourist attraction

The alphorn attracts a lot of curiosity and

admiration from Nendaz’s guests who of-

ten wish to get a little closer to local tradi-

tions and culture. The local tourism trade

benefits from the availability of these alp-

horn players for a lot of their tourists’ enter-

tainment programme like the welcome

evening or sunrise on the Mont Fort at an

altitude of 3'330m.

An unshakable loyalty

As welcoming as they are helpful, the

group from Nendaz offered its services

during the organisation of 2 festivals in the

Valais region in 1986 and 1995.

Today, they have confirmed their presence

at the 14th Valais Drink Pure Alphorn Festi-

val.

The Nendaz Quartet

True entertainers issued all from brass

band backgrounds play the role of ambas-

sadors for Nendaz. These musicians show

off their talent during entertainment events

in Nendaz and also during promotional

activities throughout Switzerland and

abroad.

The harmony

between the alphorn and

Nendaz

"This event is in keeping with Nendaz Tourisme’s

wish to promote local products and traditions. In

the future, the summer message will be based on

the alphorn to give Nendaz an image of authenticity

linked to dynamism."

Sébastien Epiney Director

Nendaz Tourisme 2

Largest meeting in Switzerland

At 2'200 metres in altitude, the Tracouet

site will be the magical stage for the 14th

Valais Drink Pure Alphorn Festival which

will take place in Nendaz from the 24th to

the 26 th July 2015 . During an entire

weekend, this alpine instrument will gather

musicians from all over the world, all with

the same love for the mountain, tradition

and folklore.

A warm and friendly atmosphere

This festival strives to be a happy and

friendly event. An opportunity for all

alphorn players to share experiences, and

to discover new pieces of music, to learn

to get to know each other, to measure

themselves against each other in an

official contest or to simply play in

exceptional scenery. A true meeting place.

A contest with over 100 participants

All the players play against each other in a

fun and friendly way, either in solo or as

groups. The jury, made up of well known

personalities within the alphorn world and

members of the Swiss Yodellers

Federation, judge the players without

knowing their identity. Most of the alphorn

players come from the German speaking

part of Switzerland. However, there are

also several other nationalities

represented: France, Austria, Italy, the

USA...

Valais Drink Pure Festival 24th- 26th of July

2015

3

The magical ‘morceaux d'ensemble’

A strong wave of emotion passes over the

spectators as all the alphorn player play

simultaneously resulting in a majestic

harmony. A dreamlike arc of alphorns

which make hearts beat even faster, as a

flag thrower pays his respect to the sky.

A traditional event

The alphorn is part of the traditions which

personalise our country, as does our

famous chocolate, watches or cheeses.

Our guests can discover local produce

during the arts and crafts market. Folk

group and yodeller performances, country

groups or bell ringers, as well as a grand

procession with over 200 head of cattle,

steep this festival in tradition and local

folklore.

A state of mind

Authenticity and sharing are inborn values

within the world of the alphorn. It is by

keeping this in mind that the entire

entertainments programme is free.

An attentive public

The locals, the guests, alphorn lovers or

those who know nothing about this

instrument are all carried by the same

wave of emotion when they hear the sound

of the alphorn. The magical atmosphere of

the site, along with the sound of the

alphorn, seems to put a spell over the

spectators.

Valais Drink Pure Festival 24th- 26th of July 2015

4

Fast learning

Who has not dreamt of learning to play this

ancient instrument? Hesitate no longer, here

is the opportunity to discover it ! In

collaboration with professional musicians,

Nendaz Tourisme organises alphorn initiation

courses. Nathalie Monory and Nicolas

Devènes will share their passion with you.

The lessons are given outside before a

breathtaking panoramic view: the world of the

alphorn.

A unique experience

Every time you hear the sound of an alphorn

emotions run high. This emotion is multiplied

first time you actually manage to get a note

out of yours. After only a couple of hours, the

teachers succeed in transmitting their

passion and each student feels such

immense pleasure in blowing a few notes.

New: advanced lessons

The week before the International Valais

Drink Pure Festival, Nendaz Tourisme

organises lessons for advanced players.

Performance “The Alphorn legend”

For two hours, every Thursday, it is possible

to discover and try out this fascinating

instrument.

Alphorn playing

courses

5

Initiation lessons 3d - 4th April 2015

15th - 16th May 2015 5th - 6th June 2015

13th - 17th July 2015

Advanced lessons 13th - 17th July 2015 20th - 24th July 2015

Price Adult

2 days CHF 100 1 week (5 days) CHF 250

Child


Rental of the instrument


Nendaz – the alphorn capital

Thanks to the festival’s notoriety, to Nendaz’s

group’s presence who play all over Europe and to

all the events proposed throughout the season,

Nendaz has placed itself as the alphorn capital.

Another attraction during the summer: the

‘bisses’ Picturesque little irrigation channels, the ‘bisses’ are a

fundamental part of the history and culture of the entire

population. Nendaz boasts an exclusive network and

offers 98km of hikes, along the 8 ‘bisses’ of which 6

have water flowing within their banks.

A space filled with nature

Go discover the regions natural treasures: bisses,

rivers, pastures, forests and glaciers can give you

unforgettable scenery.

A space filled with fun

Make the most of all the activities available to let

off some steam: snowboard, ski, snow-shoe

excursions, hikes, swimming or climbing can fulfil

all your sporting wishes.

A space filled with local produce

Have a taste of traditional customs of the region:

cheese making on the mountain pastures, visit

the old water mill or listen to stories and legends

whilst walking through the streets of the old

village. You will get a surprising flash-back of how

the local people used to live.

Nendaz, in the heart of the Alps

Nights spent by tourists 670’000 tourist nights

Winter in the heart of the “4 Vallées” Located in the heart of the ‘4-

Vallées’ region, Nendaz

proposes 400km ski runs and 92

ski lifts. The ‘Mont-Fort’ summits

at an altitude of 3330m and

guarantees exceptional snow

conditions. Artificial snow canons

also allow skiing down to the

resort from December to April.

6

Material

To create an alphorn, it is better to use fir

tree wood (Swiss Spruce), coming

principally from the forests of Risou, which

are located between the French and the

Swiss Jura region. The Spruce, by its

fundamentally sensitive nature to vibration,

is given first place among the types of

wood which allow sound resonance.

To be convinced of this quality, simply

stick a pin into one end of a log and place

an ear at the other end of the pin, whilst

another person makes the pin vibrate in a

pizzicato style. The sound heard is so

distinct that it is even possible to indicate

the musical note.

The cutting of the wood is done with such

precision as to acquire the best out of this

precious raw material. Spruce unveils its

quality of sound only after a drying period

lasting over many years, often from five to

eight years.

Manufacturing techniques

7

The alphorn is made up over 3 stages .

During the stage where the 2 parts are

glued together, a water resistant glue is

needed. The decorations, as on the edge

of the horn, on the foot or on the part

where the mouthpiece is fitted, are made

out of walnut.

One part of the instrument is covered in

wedges of rush. Some of our mountain

flowers, painted in oils, embellish the horn.

This instrument, entirely hand made

(approx. 80 hours of workmanship), can be

built in one, two, or even three pieces; the

latter to facilitates transportation. The most

frequent tonality is F or F sharp, but we

can also obtain a tonality in E or G. The

mouthpiece is also made of wood (box

wood, olive, walnut…).

The basic model, that is the alphorn in F#,

includes:

1 Horn

1 Middle extension

1 Extension for mouthpiece

1 Standard mouthpiece

Manufacturing techniques

8

The birth

The alphorn’s origins have been lost in a

time warp. Some ancient documents

mention that European and Asian

shepherds used a similar instrument, that

is to say a sort of primitive wooden

trumpet, which could play only a few notes.

1555

In Switzerland, we find proof of its

existence in manuscripts written by the

naturalist from Zurich, Conrad Gessner,

who describes a sort of horn "litum

alpinum" eleven feet long, made up of two

long pieces of wood, curved, hollowed and

bound together with wicker. This

instrument was used in central

Switzerland, to gather the cattle . In fact,

originally, it was used to call the herds

together, in the evening, in the mountains.

It was also used as a method of

communication to spread news from one

valley to the next. In some ways, it would

have been the ancestor to the loud-

speaker. In the mountains, and with the

wind as its ally, its notes can carry over

10km .

1805

At the shepherds fete in Unspunnen took

place the first alphorn competition: only

two competitors took part. The first medal

won at this occasion depicts the alphorn

shape at that time.

History of the Alphorn

9

1826

Little by little, the playing of this instrument

spread and in 1826 Niklaus von Mülinen, a

Bernese doctor, asked the compositor

Ferdinand Fürchtegott to make some

alphorn and to organise the teaching of

this instrument at Grindelwald. According

to the illustrations of the time, the alphorns

were fairly straight and very narrow.

1880

It is only around 1880 that the alphorn

was given its present shape . In the

Zeihen museum (Argovie) an example of

this period is exhibited.

Over the years, the alphorn has had mixed

amounts of popularity. At the turn of the

century, it had even almost disappeared:

when the federal association of yodellers

was created (8th of May 1910), only one

alphorn was present.

Today

In Switzerland, there are about 4'000

players, 150 in the Valais of which over

10 are from Nendaz.

History of the Alphorn

Just as the fabulous success with which products illustrating the

Swiss flag effigy are becoming more popular, Swiss folklore is

coming back into fashion.

10

1. An alphorn experience

Themes

• Share our passion of the alphorn

• Discover his manufacturing secrets

• Initiate yourself in playing this unique and

spell-binding instrument

Duration 1 to 2 days

Period All year

2. Festival atmosphere

Themes

• Let your hearing soak up the exceptional

‘morceaux d’ensemble’ played by over

100 musicians

• Meet the passionate amateurs from all

over the world

• Experience the suspense during the

official contest

• Admire a breathtaking panoramic view

Duration 1 to 3 days

Period 24th to 26th July 2015

Trips ‘à la carte’ (Taylor made trips)

We are at your entire disposal to organise a

stay and prepare a program adapted to your

wishes.

Nendaz Tourisme Emilie Lambiel

T +4127 289 55 89 F +4127 289 55 83

[email protected]

Press trips

11

The festival at a glance

We have at your disposal a wide choice of

photos based on the alphorn theme. These

photos are free of rights, all that is required

is that the photographer’s name be

mentioned and a legend making reference

to Nendaz be shown. These pictures can be

sent to you.

The music composed and performed by the

Nendaz Quartet gives you an idea of the

high standard guaranteed during the

festival.

Further information

The internet site

"www.nendazcordesalpes.ch" supplies you

with precious information about the alphorn.

Special Packages Pictures Music

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The alphorn Press kit

Press kit Alphorn 2015

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