Beautiful sights and sounds from the High Camp deck of Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, California where The Sierra Alphorn Players filled the basin with the soulful tones of their traditional instruments durning their annual late summer high altitude performance.
The unforgettable celebration of mountain culture and summertime serenity was held on August 14th as the gathering of local musicians played their handmade horns billowing rich and resonant tones that cascaded off the peaks and drifted over the lake:
Few sounds are as closely associated with the Swiss Alps as the deep, haunting call of the alphorn. These long wooden horns have been part of Alpine life for centuries, with the first documented reference to an alphorn in Switzerland dating to 1527.
Originally, the alphorn was less a musical instrument than a practical tool of mountain life. Shepherds used its powerful voice to communicate across valleys, signal to neighboring alpine pastures, and call cattle back from the mountains for milking. The sound could travel remarkably long distances through the clear alpine air. Alphorns were also played in the evening and became associated with pastoral traditions and prayer.
Typically made from spruce or other softwood, an alphorn is a long, conical wooden tube, often around 11 feet long. Unlike a trumpet, it has no valves or keys. Players change notes by controlling their lip vibrations, producing the instrument’s distinctive natural tones from the harmonic series. Modern alphorns are often built in sections so they can be transported more easily.
Although the alphorn nearly disappeared as traditional alpine farming changed during the 19th century, it experienced a revival and gradually became a powerful symbol of Swiss mountain culture. Today, its sound remains part of festivals, folk music, yodeling traditions, and celebrations throughout the Alps and has a thriving community of enthusiasts across the pond. Learn more about The Sierra Alphorn Players HERE.
