- Over a thousand alpine elephants break global record on a Swiss pasture
Over a thousand individuals, both males and females, specializing in alphorn play, have shattered the global record for the largest alphorn ensemble, as stated by the Swiss Yodeling Federation. This association, responsible for representing alphorn musicians, had set out to surpass a mark set in 2013 when 508 performers collaborated at the Gornergrat in Zermatt. Originally aiming for 550 musicians, they received close to double that number from both Switzerland and beyond. On a bright, celebratory day, they serenaded choral tunes for five minutes on the Klewenalp, in the canton of Nidwalden.
The alphorn, a lengthy wooden instrument surpassing three meters, is a cornerstone of Swiss culture, complemented by cheese, watches, and chocolates. Historically, shepherds employed this instrument to summon cows from the pasture back to the barn for milking by manipulating the tones through altering their lip vibrations.
Authorities reported that representatives from Guinness World Records attended to validate the attempt. The current record, indicated in the book, stands for an ensemble of 366 musicians, who synchronized their performance on the Gornergrat in 2009.
The Guinness World Records officially acknowledged the new record, replacing the previous one of 366 musicians with the ensemble of over a thousand alphorn players. These renowned records serve as a testament to the global passion and participation in alphorn music.
