Nature and the Alphorn: An Analysis of the Iconographic Record

The alphorn has considerable claim to be the musical instrument most closely related to nature, on a number of grounds: it evolved from the use by the herdsman of an animal horn in its natural form, it is fundamentally just a hollowed out tree, it can only sound the natural harmonics, and it originated for calling in the landscape.

Indeed, throughout its history, the various phases of its use have each had a close relationship with the natural environment. Initially the alphorn was purely a piece of equipment used for communication outdoors. Later, with the rise of tourism in the Alps, it came to be seen as an aural enhancement of the beauty of the mountains, a symbol of the alpine landscape for visitors. This perception is still much in evidence today: we hear the instrument played in places with a natural echo or with a backdrop of an idyllic alpine panorama. Other natural elements shape the story of the alphorn too: the time of day and the weather play their part. Each of these factors is reflected in the music of the instrument: how alphorn music is written down, the musical content of alphorn pieces, the way these are played and the reasons why alphorn motifs are incorporated into classical compositions as a representation of nature and the unspoilt natural world.