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Switzerland Seeks UNESCO Recognition for Yodeling Tradition
In the shadow of the Swiss Alps, a centuries-old vocal tradition is seeking global recognition. The Swiss government has submitted a bid to UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, to include yodeling on its prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage. A decision is expected by the end of the year.
Far more than the stereotypical mountain calls of lederhosen-clad herders, modern Swiss yodeling has evolved into a sophisticated art form with regional variations, formal instruction, and a growing community of practitioners.
“For me, actually, in Switzerland we have four languages but I think really we have five languages. We have a fifth: The yodel,” says Nadja Räss, a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, which became the first Swiss university to offer formal yodeling instruction about seven years ago.
While yodeling exists in neighboring Austria, Germany, and Italy, Swiss yodeling stands apart through its distinctive vocal techniques. Räss explains that Swiss yodeling is built on the “sound colors of the voice” and features two types: one centering on the head with a “u” sound, and another emanating from deeper in the chest with an “o” sound.
The tradition also varies by region. In the northern Appenzell area, yodeling tends to be “melancholic, slower,” while in central Switzerland, the sounds are “more intense and shorter,” according to Räss.
Historically, yodeling began as “natural yodeling” – wordless vowel sounds with melodies but no lyrics. These calls may have originated as a way to communicate between Alpine valleys, using distinctive sounds that could carry long distances. More recently, “yodeling song” has incorporated verses and refrains, transforming the tradition into a more structured musical form.
Throughout the 20th century, yodeling clubs proliferated across Switzerland, preserving the tradition while broadening its appeal. The distinctive tones, techniques, and tremolos of yodeling have influenced music internationally, appearing in classical, jazz, and folk compositions. American country music notably incorporated yodeling elements in the late 1920s and 1930s.
The Swiss government reports that approximately 12,000 yodelers participate in the tradition through roughly 780 groups affiliated with the Swiss Yodeling Association. Once primarily a male activity, yodeling now attracts increasing numbers of women – a significant shift in a country that only adopted universal suffrage in 1971. (The Appenzell-Innerrhoden region notably waited until 1990 to grant women equal voting rights in local elections, following a federal court ruling.)
Julien Vuilleumier, scientific adviser for the Federal Office of Culture who is spearheading the UNESCO application, acknowledges the difficulty in pinpointing yodeling’s exact origins. “What we know is that… yodeling has always been transformed and updated,” he explains.
UNESCO’s committee for Intangible Heritage will meet in New Delhi in mid-December to consider 68 nominations from around the world. Other traditions seeking recognition include Thanakha face powder from Myanmar, Ghanaian highlife music, the fermented Kyrgyz beverage Maksym, and Venezuela’s El Joropo music and dance tradition.
The UNESCO intangible heritage list differs from the more widely known World Heritage List, which focuses on physical sites like Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza. Instead, the intangible list aims to raise public awareness of arts, craftsmanship, rituals, knowledge, and traditions passed down through generations. Last year’s additions included Japanese sake, the Nowruz spring festival celebrated across parts of central Asia, and the specialized skills of zinc roofers in Paris.
For Swiss yodeling advocates, UNESCO recognition would support ongoing efforts to ensure the tradition’s future. Räss and partners including the Swiss Yodeling Association and the folk music center Roothus Gonten are already working to introduce yodeling in primary schools, with twenty Swiss teachers currently incorporating it into their curricula.
“One of my life goals is that when I die, in Switzerland every school child will have been in contact with yodeling during their primary school time,” Räss says. “I think it’s a very good chance for the future of the yodel to be on that UNESCO list.”
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18 Comments
It’s fascinating to learn about the evolution of Swiss yodeling from rural herding calls to a sophisticated art form. I wonder how the tradition has adapted to modern life and technology.
Do you think UNESCO recognition could help revitalize interest in yodeling, especially among younger Swiss generations? Or is it a tradition that will always be more niche?
I’m skeptical that yodeling will ever achieve the same level of global fame as Swiss watches or chocolate. But it’s admirable that the Swiss government is working to preserve this centuries-old tradition.
Even if yodeling doesn’t become a worldwide phenomenon, it’s good to see it receiving more formal recognition and instruction within Switzerland itself.
While yodeling may not have the same global appeal as Swiss watches or chocolate, it’s still an important part of the country’s cultural identity. I’m glad to see the government working to have it recognized by UNESCO.
The idea of yodeling as a ‘fifth language’ in Switzerland is really fascinating. It shows how deeply ingrained this vocal art form is in the country’s cultural heritage.
This is a wonderful example of how cultural practices can adapt and thrive in the modern world. Yodeling’s transition from rural herding calls to a sophisticated university-taught art form is impressive.
I hope UNESCO grants recognition for Swiss yodeling. Preserving intangible cultural heritage is so important, especially for traditions that are evolving rather than static.
Yodeling may be a niche tradition, but it’s great to see the Swiss government making efforts to have it recognized by UNESCO. Preserving intangible cultural heritage is so important, even for practices that aren’t globally famous.
I’d be curious to learn more about the distinctive vocal techniques and regional variations in Swiss yodeling. It seems like a rich and complex tradition worth celebrating.
Fascinating to see yodeling evolving as a modern Swiss cultural tradition. It’s great that the government is seeking UNESCO recognition to preserve this unique vocal art form.
I’m curious to learn more about the regional variations and formal instruction in Swiss yodeling. It seems like a rich tradition worth celebrating.
The idea of yodeling as a ‘fifth language’ in Switzerland is really unique. I’m impressed that the country is so committed to preserving this distinctive cultural practice.
I hope UNESCO grants the recognition that the Swiss government is seeking. Protecting intangible cultural heritage is so important, especially for traditions that are evolving over time.
While yodeling may not have the global appeal of Swiss watches or cheese, it’s still an important part of the country’s cultural identity. I’m glad to see the government working to preserve this tradition.
The fact that a Swiss university now offers formal yodeling instruction is really fascinating. It shows how this practice is being elevated and celebrated as a serious artistic discipline.
While yodeling exists elsewhere, the article highlights how Swiss yodeling has its own distinctive techniques and styles. It’s great that this unique national tradition is seeking global recognition.
The idea of yodeling as a ‘fifth language’ in Switzerland is really fascinating. It shows how deeply ingrained this vocal art form is in the country’s cultural identity.