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L P H O R N| In the photo below Helmar, Tobi and Brian played an Alphorn concert for the Swisslog reception in Carlisle Pennsylvania (October 2011).
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Helmar Mueller: From York, Pennsylvania, Helmar is a band leader, Swiss Alphorn, Trumpet, Accordion and Button Box (Squeeze Box) player. Helmar made CD recordings in 1996 and 2002 with the Swiss Alphorn.
Tobi Cisin: From Washington DC, Tobi is a Swiss Alphorn Soloist since 1991. Tobi also plays French horn, has a Masters of Music degree from the Indiana University and competed in the top ten percent at the 2007 International Alphorn Competition of Nendaz, Switzerland.
The Alphorn Sound
Alphorns have no valves, and are played much like a bugle. It takes practice to build your lip in order to play the full range of the horn which, surprisingly, is several octaves. When they are played, the notes are produced by the tension of the musician's lips and the presuure of their breath.
Making of the Alphorn
The making of an Alphorn is an art that is handed down from generation-to-generation. Only select spruce, and sometimes pine, is used by Alphorn makers to carve the Alphorn. It is most often made in three sections for easy transport. The three sections have brass bushings with O-rings on the ends, allowing the sections to be pushed together to seal the connections. A hardwood ring on the bell, the rattan wrapped tube sections and a seperate wooden mouth piece similar to brass instruments completes the Alphorn. Finishing touches of the Alphorn include either carvings or hand paintings of alpine flowers or any type of artwork to personalize the identity of the Alphorn.
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Take a look at the finishing samples shown at the left. Beautiful works of art decorate each horn, and again, no two are exactly alike. If you would like, you can personalize your horn by having your initials carved in your horn, as Helmar did. To see a close-up of each horn's bell decoration simply click on the carving or painting in the photo. |
For more information regarding the purchase of a beautiful handcrafted Alphorn contact Helmar Mueller at hmueller@alpenlaenders.com
