The Alphorn Trio
Playing at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

Please be patient while video loads.

The alphorn is a remarkably simply instrument. It consists of a long flaring spruce tube with a mouthpiece--and that's it. No valves, no keys, no holes, no spit valve. Yet its very simplicity (as well as its size) makes it a difficult instrument to play.

Since ancient times the Alphorn has been used as a part of the daily activities of the mountain dwellers in Switzerland and elsewhere. It was the twilight signal for the flocks of sheep to settle in for the night as the shepherds exchanged rustic melodies across the valleys. Such melodies became ritual signals for "All is Well in the Valley" and were passed down through countless generations, from shepherd father to shepherd son. The sound of the Alphorn called the people to gather for council and the men to gather for war.

Embed this video onto your site. Copy and Paste following code.