Address/Location: New Glarus High School Auditorium

At the Alpine Festival visitors to New Glarus enjoy traditional Swiss entertainment presented by local groups in the High School Auditorium. Watching this intimate event is somewhat like watching a talent show. All of the talent is really good, yet it feels as you have temporarily become a member of this tiny little town. Performers in ethnic costumes entertain you with yodeling, singing, alphorn blowing, dancing, Swiss music and more.

The program is sponsored by the Jodlerklub New Glarus (New Glarus Yodel Club) and they performed about 8 selections. It was here I learned that yodeling is much more than the stereotypical "Yodel-ay-ee-hoo" and can actually be beautiful and hypnotic music. The Jodlerklub consisted of 19 members, only one being female. Most of the time when they performed they did so with no music, and all we heard where the wondrous melodies of their harmonious voices. At one point they sang with "instruments" made from large creamery bowls with a coin circling around in the bottom of the bowl. It was kind of like someone running their finger around the edge of a crystal glass, except a much deeper sound.

The New Glarus Kinderchor also performed which is a singing group of little children. The Swiss Miss Dancers and Tell Usherettes demonstrated traditional Swiss dancing. Other performers sang and played various instruments. In fact the program opened with an interesting performance of the Wilhelm Tell Overture played with only the timphony and accordion.

We were most impressed with the Alphorns. These are the large, traditionally Swiss, horns often seen in the Ricola commercials. The group that played for us is the only Swiss alphorn formation in North America. Heinz Mattman, John Colstad and John Wegmuller make up the group. Apparently there are a few other alphorn players around the United States, but they are singles. The sounds of the three alphorn playing together was one of the most relaxing sounds I have ever heard and that is probably the one thing and I am most glad I was introduced to on this trip.

The New Glarus Maennerchor (Men's Choir) also sang a few songs. At the finale of the Alpine Festival all the performers got together on stage and led the audience through a sing-a-long to Edelweiss.

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