General Archive - Page 3 of 4

Alphorn maker – François Morisod

13. April 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

In Lavey-Village, at the south-eastern tip of the canton of Vaud, François Morisod has been making his alphorns for over twenty years. Michel Gaugaz from Aigle(seen here in a TVRL video) had asked the carpenter and wood sculptor for assistance at the time and then initiated him into the basics of the alphorn. This opened up the world of music for François, which was completely new to him. The production of wooden sculptures, as well as general carpentry, has remained

Alphorn maker – Alphorn Tobias

3. April 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

I have known Tobias Bärtschi for about twelve years. After first steps on an inexpensive entry-level instrument, I was looking for an upgrade at that time, and Tobias already had a reputation for producing virtuoso top horns. After all, no less a person than Joszef Molnar dedicated a “carte de visite” to him, and in it described him as the best alphorn maker in Switzerland. So I acquired an unwound Bärtschi horn (now his “Solist” model), with which I have

The perfect alphorn mouthpiece

21. March 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

For an article by Robert Scotton on the same topic (in French), see here. The question here is, “How do I find the alphorn mouthpiece that best suits me and my alphorn?” This is not a topic for beginners! At the beginning of the alphorn career, the mouthpiece feels unfamiliar, and there is a lack of reference to classify subjective impressions. For the first few years, you should therefore refrain from experimenting. Better to settle on an “average” mouthpiece from

Alphorn maker – Bachmann’s Alphornmacherei

21. February 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

The alphorn maker near Eggiwil in Emmental is a Swiss alphorn making dynasty. Ernst Schüpbach had built his first alphorn here in 1925 and later introduced his son-in-law Hansruedi Bachmann to the craft. Walter Bachmann has been managing the family business in the third generation since 2008. This includes a farm with twelve happy cows, which today still contributes about a third of the income. When Walter speaks lovingly about his “Grossäti” (grandfather), he thus tells first-hand alphorn making history.

Alphorn maker – Bugada

7. February 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

Aldo Bugada is a trained master carpenter. Together with his brother, he runs a medium-sized family business in the fourth generation. Mainly they produce cabinets, tables, doors and windows. During my visit, I also saw a number of old pews that are being professionally restored at the Falegnameria Fratelli Bugada. Therefore, when he started blowing the alphorn with his wife in 2014, the question arose whether he should buy an alphorn or build one himself. He decided to give it

Alphorn maker – Cattaneo

7. February 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

From the very first contact with Bruno Cattaneo by e-mail, one senses his infectious enthusiasm and engaging cordiality. He connects alphorn blowing and the craft of alphorn making with a lot of positive emotions. Bruno is a trained carpenter. The company Cattaneo and Kunz – Bruno together with his business partner Gioel Kunz, occasionally supported by his father Claudio Cattaneo – carries out a wide variety of flooring, carpentry and joinery work. The production of alphorns has proved to be

Alphorn maker – Suissewood Alpensax

17. January 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

Simon Keller has been playing the alphorn for seven years. During this time, he happened to come across a picture of an Alpine sax on the Internet and was immediately fascinated. Soon he set about building his own instrument. He drew plans, a colleague helped him program the CNC files, and Roland Zahner milled the blanks. As a trained toolmaker, Simon took over the finish. After 120 hours of work, Model 1.0 was ready. Disillusionment followed: the instrument did not

Alphorn maker – woodARTmusic

12. January 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

Anton “Toni” von Gunten began his musical career in early childhood. From the violin he moved on to the clarinet and brass band. He graduated in wind band conducting, later working as a clarinet and saxophone teacher. Besides, he always dealt with wood; he built original“urchrummi” furniture during several years. He owes his entry into the alphorn to the reputation of alphorn maker Tobias Bärtschi, whom he had known since recruit school in the army band – the brass band

Overtone music in 432Hz

11. January 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

Since 1975 the ISO standard 16-1975 is valid (here you can buy it for 40 CHF). It sets the concert pitch a1 at a frequency of 440Hz. As early as 1939, this tuning was agreed upon at a conference in London and endorsed as a recommendation by the ISO in 1955. With its adoption as a standard, unification was sealed, promoting musical exchange, trade of musical instruments and audio equipment. Already in the 1980s some people rejected the standard and

Alphorn maker – helvetic alphorn

6. January 2023 Benno Weber Leave a comment

After suffering a heart attack, Roland Zahner decided to rearrange his priorities in 2009. He downsized from his office job and resumed the manual labor he had neglected since becoming an apprentice model carpenter. He found a first new project with the“Wiler Hofpferden” – noble wooden rocking horses in the range and logo of Franz Carl Weber. Then the accidental contact with Gérald Pot in January 2010 was groundbreaking. Pot told him about his work as an alphorn maker and