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Sierra Alphorn Players
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ECHO IN THE MOUNTAINS
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Ricola! An instrument best known for hawking cough drops has been sighted in the Sierra Nevada. Next time you’re out for a weekend hike, don’t be surprised to hear the sound of alphorns echoing through the highlands.
Originally invented by Alps-dwelling shepherds to send messages between distant valleys, the alphorn is a 12-foot-long,
STORY BY SEAN M c ALINDIN
The Sierra Alphorn Players gather at Spooner Summit trailhead, from left, James Downs, Lin Nelson, Caspar Hirsbrunner, Todd Green, Brandi Jones, Cathy Zarker and Lindsey Jones. | Courtesy Sharell Katibah
conical instrumental known for its distinctive tone. From the Tibetan dungchen to the erke of Bolivia to Australia’s digeridoo, horn-like instruments were developed by indigenous people around the world as a means of communication. In Europe, the alphorn’s sweet melody would calm the cows at milking time and remind the sheep to settle in for the night.
Lindsey Jones finds his inner peace while playing the alphorn at Winnemucca Lake. | Courtesy Brandi Jones
One of the most popular songs for alphorn is “Hoch Auf Dem Berg,” German for “high on the mountain.”
“It’s kind of your quintessential tune,” says Brandi. “Everyone who plays the alphorn knows the melody. Brahms stole it for Symphony No. 1.”
Another that Swiss students typically learn in grade school is titled, “Ranz des Vaches,” or “line of cows.”
“It’s something completely different,” says Brandi. “The sound is quite special. Whether they are familiar with it or not, people are emotionally moved. There is something about it that seems to resonate deeply.”
Perhaps its soothing nature made it a natural fit for a cough-drop commercial, but there’s definitely something extraordinarily comforting about the sound of the alphorn.
“It’s hard to describe the sense of calm you get from playing the instrument,” says Brandi. “If you’ve been having a bad day or a lot of stress going on, it seems to go away. You forget about it while you’re playing.” | sierrahorns.org n
Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.
Watch a performance of
Sierra Alphorn Players at TheTahoeWeekly.com
A traditional alphorn is carved from a single tree, preferably one growing aside a steep slope, so the tree’s trunk is curved, which is necessary for the shape of the alphorn’s bottom bell. Its peaceful sound combines the richness of a brass instrument with the softness of a woodwind.
Contemporary alphorns are rarely made from a single tree and they usually come apart into small, easily transportable sections. A decent one made in Switzerland will run you around $3,000. More recently, makers have begun experimenting with exotic materials, such as carbon fiber, as the alphorn gains popularity around the world.
MOBILE PHONE OF THE STONE AGE
Brandi Jones and her husband, Lindsey, own Silver and Brass Music Shop in Carson City, Nev. They founded the Sierra Alphorn Players in 2019 after attending the North American Alphorn Retreat at Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.
As trained French horn players, the transition to the elongated alphorn was an easy one. With a range of notes mostly in the key of F, alphorn players can achieve up to 16 different tones simply by varying the embouchure or how the player applies his or her mouth to the mouthpiece.
“You basically play it by buzzing your lips together and blowing a raspberry,” says Brandi Jones. “It’s definitely harder than learning the guitar, but it’s not unheard of.”
The club now has 12 members who gather each weekend for outdoor performances at locations surrounding Lake Tahoe. Every Sunday at 4 p.m. they meet at Davis Creek Regional Park in Washoe City, Nev. for public rehearsals.
On Saturday mornings, these intrepid musicians strap their alphorns to their backs and hike to various lakes and summits where they can play the instrument the way it was meant to be – in the wild.
“The best experience is getting up to an alpine location where the acoustics are amazing,” says Brandi. “Winnemucca Lake, for example, has a rock wall that sends the echo right back. It’s lovely for the people hiking up the mountains because you can hear it from a couple of miles away.”
As ramblers seek refuge in the mountains during a pandemic, a lucky few have been astounded to stumble on the mythical alphorn reverberating from rocky peaks like gentle peals of heaven.
“Last year, we had a lot of people overwhelmed by the fact that they could hear live music in the mountains,” says Brandi. “People were incredibly grateful for that since there weren’t many events happening. We also get those who are homesick for Germany and Switzerland that thank us for reminding them of their homeland. And we do get a lot of people shouting ‘Ricola,’ which is always kind of funny.”
Public rehearsals
Sundays | 4 p.m. Davis Creek Regional Park Washoe City, Nev.
Hike-in performances
(parking fees may apply)
June 26 | 10 a.m. Carson Pass trailhead Winnemucca Lake
July 3 | 10:15 a.m. Woods Lake Picnic Area | Highway 88
July 10 | 10 a.m. Big Meadows Trailhead | Round Lake
