Natural yodeling and yodel songs

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Natural yodelling and yodel songs are widely considered to be the forms of singing that represent Switzerland. Yodelling is practiced by men and women of all ages and social classes. Many yodellers are members of a yodelling club: there are 780 of these groups operating under the umbrella of the Federal Yodelling Association, which was founded in 1910 and boasts around 12,000 members in their yodelling section. Today's yodelling tradition is heavily influenced by the vocal aesthetics of the 19th century. Multi-voiced yodelling songs, which were created in the 20th century and enjoy widespread popularity, are split into two parts: strophic text in the first part and yodelling on syllables in the second. Natural yodelling traditions – those sung exclusively on syllables – are characterised by differences in regional sound ideals. This means that differences can be heard between the "Entlebucher Jutz", the "Berner Naturjutz" or the "Juiz" in Ob- and Nidwalden, the "Zäuerli" and "Ruggusserli" in Appenzell and the "Johlen" in the Toggenburg region. Of particular note, the "Juuz" of the Muota Valley (Muotatal) uses tones that are outside the equal temperament.