2017-05-17 Wed

Swiss Mint issued 20-franc commemorative silver coins on 4th May celebrating the 30th annual Swiss Jodlerfest (Yodeling Festival) that will happen this year in Brig-Glis from 22nd to 25th June. The coin features an iodine miner.

15,000 participants are expected to perform and 150,000 visitors would come down to witness this festival in the Oberwalliser metropolis. Yodel choruses and solo singers will be accompanied by alphorn-blowers and flag-swingers. Historically, the natural yodel was a form of communication in mountainous regions. It was also used for driving the cows. The yodel is sung without text by making quick changes between chest and falsetto voices. It became a craft in the 19th century in Switzerland and other Alpine countries.

The yodel comes across as a final refrain. The Jodellied, a favourite of union youngsters, is a two-, three- and four-voice song, mostly accompanied by a Schwyzerörgeli. In 1910, they became a part of the Federal Association of Yodelers (EJV). They perform yearly in regional and cantonal competitions apart from the three-yearly Federal Jodlerfest.