Natural yodelling and yodel songs are widely considered to be Switzerland’s representative forms of singing. Around 20,000 people yodel in Switzerland, in traditional costume or everyday clothes, mostly in choirs, sometimes in smaller groups or alone. Today's yodelling tradition is influenced to a large extent by the vocal aesthetics of the 19th century. In the 20th century, multi-voiced yodelling songs were created, which are widely used. These are spilt into two parts: strophic text in the first part and yodelling on syllables in the second part. Natural yodelling traditions – those sung exclusively on syllables – are characterised by regionally differentiated sound ideals. Thus, 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. Of particular note, the "Juuz" of the Muota Valley (Muotatal) uses tones that are outside the equal temperament. The Federal Yodelling Association, founded in 1910, is committed to the spread and continuous promotion of yodel singing in Switzerland.
The Bachji Yodel Club at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 23.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
The Horw Yodel Club in a lecture at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 24.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
The Kerzers Children’s Yodel Choir before their performance at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 24.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
Yodel duet with "Örgeli" accompaniment at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 23.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
Lecture on yodelling at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 24.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
Political decision-makers are also present at the Federal Yodelling Festival: Federal Councillor Alain Berset and EJV President Karin Niederberger (Brig-Glis, 25.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
The yodel club "Heimattreu Calgary" at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 25.6.2017) © swiss-image.ch/Andy Mettler
In addition to yodelling, flag wavers and alphorn players present their traditions at the Federal Yodelling Festival (Brig-Glis, 25.6.2017) © Marc-Antoine Camp
A Federal Yodelling Festival requires perfect organisation and numerous volunteers (Brig-Glis, 25.6.2017) © Marc-Antoine Camp
"Echo vom Säntis", Valley Basin © ROOTHUUS GONTEN
Appenzell Youth Choir, winner of the young yodelers competition, 2011 © ROOTHUUS GONTEN
The Herisau "Saumchörli", circa 1985 © ROOTHUUS GONTEN
Yodel club "Männertreu", Neu St. Johann, postcard, stamped 1920 © ROOTHUUS GONTEN
Yodel quintet "Burestobe", memory of a journey to Ticino in 1903 © ROOTHUUS GONTEN
Title page of the "Collection of Swiss Cow Herding/ Coaxing Songs and Folk Songs" [Sammlung von Schweizer Kühreihen und Volksliedern] from 1826 with the engraving "Appenzeller Ruguser" by Jb. Lips after G. Lory, father
Detailed description
Naturjodel und Jodellied (PDF, 401 kB, 13.06.2018)Ausführliche Beschreibung
Category
Canton
Connected traditions
Publications
Paul Am Acher: Ruedi Rymann und der Schacherseppli - Jodler, Komponist, Dichter, Schwinger und Wildhüter. Bettlach, 2002
Raymond Ammann: Der Jodler in Tirol. In: Einen Jodler hör i gern: studentische Feldforschungsberichte über den Wandel der Tiroler Jodlers zu Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts, ed. Raymond Ammann, Innsbruck, 2016, p. 9-34
Max Peter Baumann: Musikfolklore und Musikfolklorismus - eine ethnomusikologische Untersuchung zum Funktionswandel des Jodels. Winterthur, 1976
Eidgenössischer Jodlerverband (Ed.): Lebendiges Schweizer Brauchtum, 1910-2010. Bremgarten, 2010
Robert-Fellmann Stiftung (Ed.): Robert Fellmann, 1885-1951: ein Leben für das Jodellied. Baar, 2001
Heinrich J. Leuthold: Der Naturjodel in der Schweiz. Wesen, Ent-stehung, Charakteristik, Verbreitung. Altdorf, 1981
Joe Manser (Ed.): Appenzellische Volksmusik. Herisau, 2010
Bart Plantenga: Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo: The Secret History of Yodel-ing Around the World. New York, 2004
Nadja Räss, Franziska Wigger et al.: Jodel - Theorie & Praxis. Altdorf, 2010
Dieter Ringli: Jodelgesang: Wenn die Tradition zum Trend wird. In: Musikszene Schweiz, ed. Christoph Merki. Zürich, 2009
Simon Wascher: Das Wort Jodel 1696-1796 in Belegstellen aus Digitalisaten. In: Jahrbuch des österreichischen Volksliedwerkes 2016, p. 138-151
Bernard Weber, Martin Schilt: Die Wiesenberger. No Business like Show Business (Film). Luzern, 2012
Yannick Wey, Andrea Kammermann, Raymond Ammann: Naturjo-del und Naturtonreihe - eine gemeinsame Musikästhetik des Alp-horns und des Jodels? In: Bulletin GVS/CH-EM 2017/18, p. 6-13
Hugo Zemp: A Swiss yodelling series: «Jüüzli» of the Muotatal (4 films). Watertown, 2012 (first edition 1986-87)
Links
Keywords
Contact
Eidgenössischer Jodlerverband EJV
Roothuus Gonten
Zentrum für Appenzeller und Toggenburger Volksmusik