A
L P H O R N| Here are Reese (left) and Helmar (right) playing their F sharp "Alphorns." Each horn is produced to play in a specific key signature. 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 strictly by lip control. You can view additional pictures in our integrated webAlbum on the left. Click on the Next button to advance a picture or Previous to go back one. |
Horn building is an art that is handed down from generation-to-generation. Only select pine is used, pine that is found only in the Swiss Alps. Much goes into the selection of wood, and it is quite a task to search for "...just the right trees." The wood is harvested at peak season and must be cured and taken care of immediately in order to get the best tonality from the finished horn.
 | You can choose to have your horn decorated by hand carving or hand painting. Take a look at the 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. |
Each alphorn breaks down into three pieces to facilitate easy transport - in other words, you won't need a long trailer to carry the horn around!
For more information regarding the purchase of a beautiful handcrafted Alphorn contact Helmar Mueller at hmueller@alpenlaenders.com
