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The opportunity for this portrait arose on the occasion of a performance of Frapepi at Uhuru Festival 2023. Unexpectedly, things got a bit chaotic: A storm on the Weissenstein shredded the tents of the festival visitors, and during the concert the area had to be evacuated. At least we found a reasonably quiet barn for the interview and alphorn trial. Franz Schüssele is an alphorn Jack of all trades. He began his musical career as a trombonist in classical music

At the age of 32, Romain Boulanger is currently probably the youngest alphorn maker. I met him on the sidelines of my visit to the Federal Yodeling Festival and tried out his alphorn. Romain has played the trumpet since early childhood and is still active in a harmony. Rather by chance he discovered the alphorn seven years ago. Via Alexandre Jous he came to the Sonneurs de Savoye . Besides this large formation, Romain also blows successfully with the Trio

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.

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

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