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the yodelling chorus. It is interesting to note
that in our choir, the majority are of foreign
descent. We came to sing together and to learn
more about Switzerland, explore its traditions,
integrate more with its culture, or just open our
hearts and emotions together in this beautiful
and special type of singing.

Interested? Well, this year is the perfect time to
try it, as the triennial Federal Yodelling Festival
is taking place in Basel, where you can hear all
kinds of yodelling. If you miss that and are in
Switzerland for Swiss National Day, you will
hear yodelling wherever you are in the country.
Later in August, a major Cors des Alpes event
will take place in Klewenalp. In 2024, it attracted
1,006 performers from around the globe, earning H O T E L D E L U X E D A N S L E S A L P I L L E S
or at home, it still has that feel of the outdoors a place in the Guinness Book of World Records;
about it. Once you know how to do it, you feel this year too, there will be many, accompanied
the need to express yourself through yodel more by yodellers. After that, there will be various Idéalement situé dans un parc de 7 hectares de pinède et d’oliviers,
often in nature, we have noticed. Désalpe or ‘Chästeilet’ events like Justistal; au cœur du Parc naturel régional des Alpilles,
majestic yodelling is very much in evidence
There are interesting classes combining yoga and there, and if you start now, you could even be le Domaine de Valmouriane,
yodelling. Of course, yoga is not a traditional part of it. le nouvel hôtel luxe de SaintɳRémyɳdeɳProvence,
practice here, but its breathing and meditation
techniques help to concentrate, and connect So, let us yodel together, starting with an easy vous accueille dans sa magnifique bastide provençale alliant à merveille le luxe,
with yourself. There are interesting classes in one: chest voice (low voice) in small letters, l’authenticité et le charme d’une nature préservée.
learning yodelling in its native Alps, used while falsetto, head voice (soprano) in big letters,
hiking, especially uphill, as this requires more and use an abrupt switch between the two:
breathing effort and develops your diaphragm to Yodel – AY – EEE – ooou ! 3HWLWH URXWH GHV %DX[ '
6DLQW 5«P\ GH 3URYHQFH )UDQFH
produce better sound. In a way it is a good sports 7«O«SKRQH

exercise, and if done in a group, it is a perfect ( PDLO
FRQWDFW#GRPDLQHGHYDOPRXULDQH FRP
unifying technique – good for health, for heart 1RWUH VLWH LQWHUQHW
and for feelings. ZZZ GRPDLQHGHYDOPRXULDQH FRP
KWWSV ZZZ IDFHERRN FRP GRPDLQHGHYDOPRXULDQH
KWWSV ZZZ LQVWDJUDP FRP GRPDLQHGHYDOPRXULDQH "KO IU
Of course there are yodelling courses without KWWSV ZZZ OLQNHGLQ FRP FRPSDQ\ GRPDLQH GH YDOPRXULDQH
hiking, just in nature, and there are also ones in
spiritual places such as Einsiedeln, a place so holy
that it inspires you to yodel in praise! As well as
the Lucerne University courses, there are classes
of even more sophisticated vocal technique.
For example, at Yale University the most gifted
soprano students who can control their falsetto
level can learn the operatic technique of trilling,
which is basically a type of advanced yodel.
(Note: If you happen to be in Geneva on 1 August,
However, you need not worry that yodelling come and listen to our multinational choir
is only for especially talented singers or ones “Le Coeur des Yodleuses de Genève”, which is
with powerful voices: anyone can learn. Whilst conducted by a brilliant Opera Mezzo-soprano
soloists need to be particularly skilled, there are Valérie Pellegrini. In this article, we are also
usually four or six background voices, and most publishing photos of our two recent concerts in
people can manage one of those. Trust us on Geneva, where we were so fortunate to perform
this: neither Gertrud or I are great singers but after only a month of training with this talented
there is definitely a place for us to join in with singer and the choir director).

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