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The alphorn is a traditional lip-reed wind instrument that is played in the Austrian countryside. It is a long, straight wooden natural horn with a length of 3 to 4 metres and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece. The alphorn is used by rural communities in the Alps for intercommunication and at daily ceremonies and seasonal festivals. The Vienna horn is another type of horn that is used primarily in Vienna, Austria, for playing orchestral or classical music. It is a single F horn with a unique form of double-cylinder valve called a pumpenvalve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Alphorn |
| Other Names | Alpenhorn, cor des Alpes, corno alpino, Hölzern Trummet |
| Place of Use | Switzerland, Austria, Romania, and other mountainous regions of Europe |
| Users | Shepherds, herdsmen, villagers |
| Usage | Communication, ceremonies, seasonal festivals, classical music, orchestral music |
| Length | 9.8 to 13 feet (3 to 4 metres) |
| Shape | Straight, trumpet-shaped, S-shaped, bent at the end like a cow's horn |
| Construction | Wooden, made from pine, ash wood, carbon, or other foreign materials |
| Parts | Hand tube, central tube, tailpipe, bell |
| Mouthpiece | Cup-shaped, less concave than a standard horn mouthpiece |
| Key | Depends on length; Fis/Ges (F sharp/G flat) alphorn is 3.5 metres long |
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What You'll Learn
Alphorn history
The alphorn is a traditional lip-reed wind instrument that is played by rural communities in the Alps. It is a simple tube with no lateral openings or means of adjusting the pitch, so only the notes of the natural harmonic series are available. The alphorn is made from a very long straight wooden natural horn, with a length of 3 to 4 metres (9.8 to 13 feet), a conical bore, and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece.
The alphorn is believed to have developed from instruments like the lituus, a similarly shaped Etruscan instrument of classical antiquity, although there is limited evidence to support this claim. The first documented use of the German word "Alphorn" is in a payment recorded in the 1527 accounts ledger of Saint Urban's Abbey in Pfaffnau. In 1555, Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner used the words "lituum alpinum" for the first known detailed description of the alphorn, in his "De raris et admirandis herbis". The alphorn was also mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus (c. 56–120 CE), and a 2nd-century Roman mosaic found in Boscéaz near Orbe in Switzerland depicts a shepherd using a similar straight horn.
From the 17th to the 19th centuries, alphorns were used in rural areas of the Alps for signalling between high pastures and to communities in the valleys below. The sounds of the alphorn can carry for several kilometres and were used to collect dispersed herds. By the early 19th century, the use of alphorns by herdsmen had declined, but a revival of interest in the musical qualities of the instrument followed by the end of the century. The alphorn became an important part of Swiss tourism and inspired Romantic composers such as Beethoven and Gustav Mahler to incorporate the alphorn or traditional alphorn melodies into their compositions.
Today, the traditional alphorn is made in one piece from the trunk of a pine tree, but modern alphorns are typically made in three detachable sections for easier transport and handling, carved from blocks of spruce. The blowing of tube instruments has been practised for a long time, with cave drawings depicting the Australian Didgeridoo and evidence that people of the Stone Age blew into hollow bones to create warning whistles.
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Vienna horns
The Vienna horn (German: Wiener Horn) is a type of musical horn used primarily in Vienna, Austria, for playing orchestral or classical music. It is used throughout Vienna, including the Vienna Philharmonic and Wiener Staatsoper. The Vienna horn has a unique design, which is visually very 19th-century. It uses a unique form of double-cylinder valve known as a pumpenvalve, which is similar to a standard piston valve but is not pushed directly inward. Instead, long push-rods reach across to each lever key, allowing for either a fast or slow change in the valve by lever. The pumpenvalve horn was retained in Vienna because it sounds more like the natural horn, with a more mellow sound and arguably smoother legato.
The Vienna horn is a single F, but it is much more exciting than any standard single F. The internal diameter of the Vienna horn is smaller than that of more modern horns, and the bore size and shape are very close to the design of the valve-less natural horns. The removable crooks (usually an F and A and/or B♭) are also smoothly tapered for the length of the horn. Thus, there is no "compromise" (of dual tubing) as found in the modern double horn and triple horn. Horn players who use the Vienna horn also use a natural horn mouthpiece, which is less concave than a typical double horn mouthpiece.
The valve design was patented in 1823 by Viennese instrument maker Joseph Riedl and hornist Josef Kail. However, it had actually been produced as early as 1819 by instrument maker C. F. Sattler of Leipzig and possibly earlier by Stölzel and Blühmel. The use of two pistons for each valve loop made for a more consistent bore and eliminated the potential problem of back pressure found in the single-piston Stölzel valve. When a Vienna valve is depressed, it introduces two sharp 90-degree angles into the windway and two sudden constrictions of approximately 8% in the bore, neither of which assist in the response of the instrument. German players favoured the Vienna valve until the 1850s, while Austrian players continued to use it.
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Construction and design
The alphorn is a traditional lip-reed wind instrument used by rural communities in the Alps. It is a long, straight wooden natural horn with a length of 3 to 4 metres (9.8 to 13 feet), a conical bore, and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece. The alphorn is constructed from a single piece of pine trunk, which is hollowed out and shaped to form a long, conical tube bent at the end like a cow's horn. The construction process involves cutting, hollowing out, and shaping the wood to create the desired form.
Historically, alphorns were made from young, crooked pines found in steep, mountainous areas. The slow growth of this Alpine wood results in closely packed growth rings, creating a strong and durable material for the instrument. The process of construction has evolved over time, with modern alphorns often made in three detachable sections for portability and ease of handling. These sections, including the hand tube, central tube, tailpipe, and bell, are typically crafted from blocks of spruce and bonded together before being carved into their final shape.
The design of the alphorn has remained largely unchanged since its first documentation in the 16th century by natural scientist Conrad Gesner. It is characterised by its length, which can reach up to 12 feet (4 metres), and its conical shape, similar to a cow's horn. The mouthpiece is an essential design element, crafted from wood to form a cup-shaped component. While the alphorn has retained its original form, some variations have been introduced, resulting in trumpet-shaped or S-shaped designs, particularly in the eastern Alps.
The Vienna horn, a type of musical horn used primarily in Vienna, Austria, differs in design from the alphorn. It features a unique form of double-cylinder valve, known as a pumpenvalve, which was patented in 1823 by Viennese instrument makers Joseph Riedl and Josef Kail. The pumpenvalve allows for a smooth airflow when not engaged, and when actuated, redirects the airstream to reduce resistance. The Vienna horn also employs a natural horn mouthpiece, which is less concave than those used in standard horns, facilitating the production of lower notes.
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Usage and playing
The alphorn is a traditional lip-reed wind instrument that is played in the Austrian countryside. It is a long, straight wooden natural horn, typically measuring between 9.8 and 13 feet (3 to 4 metres) in length and featuring a conical bore and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece.
The alphorn has been used in the Austrian and Swiss Alps by rural communities, herdsmen, and villagers for communication, daily ceremonies, and seasonal festivals. It is also used to call cows from pastures and into the barn at milking time. The sound of the alphorn in the evening can serve as an evening prayer.
Historically, the alphorn was made from a single piece of pine trunk, but modern alphorns are often made in three detachable sections for easier transport and handling, crafted from blocks of spruce or other types of wood like ash. The construction techniques have evolved, and today, the individual parts (hand tube, central tube, tailpipe, and bell) are typically bonded together and then carved into shape.
The key in which an alphorn can be played depends on its length. The Fis/Ges (F sharp/G flat) alphorn, for example, is 3.5 metres long. Playing the alphorn is considered challenging due to its simple design, which has retained its original form while other wind instruments have evolved with technical advancements.
In the 19th century, playing the alphorn in trios and quartets was introduced, and it has since been featured in various musical compositions, including classical, orchestral, and even video game music. The Vienna horn, a type of musical horn used primarily in Vienna, Austria, is another example of a horn played in the Austrian countryside. It is known for its unique form of double-cylinder valve, known as a pumpenvalve, which allows for fast or slow changes in the valve by the lever.
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Appearances in media
The alphorn, a traditional lip-reed wind instrument, is used by rural communities in the Alps. It is a very long straight wooden natural horn, with a length of 3 to 4 metres (9.8 to 13 feet), a conical bore, and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece.
The alphorn has made its way into various media appearances over the years, showcasing its unique sound and cultural significance.
In music, the alphorn has been featured in compositions by renowned composers such as Brahms, who drew inspiration from alphorn melodies during his vacation in Switzerland. His correspondence with Clara Schumann reveals the influence on the dramatic entry of the horn in the introduction to the last movement of his First Symphony. Leopold Mozart also composed the "Sinfonia pastorale for corno pastoriccio in G (alphorn) and string orchestra" in 1755.
Contemporary composers have continued to showcase the alphorn in their works, including Jean Daetwyler's "Concerto for alphorn and orchestra" in 1970 and Daniel Schnyder's "Concerto for alphorn in F and orchestra" in 2004. Arkady Shilkloper has also composed several pieces featuring the alphorn, such as "Alpine Trail for alphorn and orchestra" and "Crested Butte Mountain for alphorn and wind band."
The alphorn has also made notable appearances in popular music and media. It can be heard in the song "Viver Senza Tei," Switzerland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989, performed by Furbaz. Additionally, it is featured in Rammstein's "Dicke Titten" and advertisements for Ricola cough drops, manufactured in Switzerland.
In video games, the Horn Top Hop" level in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze features Hootz enemies playing alphorns in sync with the background music.
The alphorn's cultural and historical significance has also been recognised in literature and art. The Roman historian Tacitus (c. 56–120 CE) mentioned the alphorn, and a 2nd-century Roman mosaic found in Switzerland depicts a shepherd using a similar straight horn. Music scholar Michael Praetorius described an alphorn-like instrument in his 17th-century treatise, Syntagma Musicum, referring to it as a "Hölzern Trummet" or "wooden trumpet."
The Vienna horn, a type of horn with a unique design and rotary valves, has gained attention through videos of the Vienna Philharmonic and discussions on specialised websites.
Overall, the alphorn and its variations have left their mark on various forms of media, from classical music to video games, showcasing their enduring appeal and cultural importance.
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Frequently asked questions
The alphorn is a traditional lip-reed wind instrument used by rural communities in the Alps. It is a long, straight wooden natural horn with a length of 3 to 4 metres and a wooden cup-shaped mouthpiece.
The Vienna horn is a type of musical horn used primarily in Vienna, Austria, for playing orchestral or classical music. It is used by the Vienna Philharmonic and Wiener Staatsoper.
The Vienna horn uses a unique form of double-cylinder valve known as a pumpenvalve, which is similar to a standard piston valve but is not pushed directly inward.
The Vienna horn is played with a natural horn mouthpiece, which is less concave than a typical double horn mouthpiece.
The alphorn was first documented in the mid-16th century by natural scientist Conrad Gesner. It has traditionally been used by shepherds to call cows from the pastures and into the barn at milking time.
