Austria: Yodelling tradition goes underground in Graz
Austria's yodellers are using a Graz underground car park for its rich acoustics, bringing an Alpine tradition to an unusual urban setting.
In the heart of Graz, Austria, a unique yodelling tradition is thriving in an unexpected location: the underground car park along the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai. Over an hour, around 30 singers, instructed by teacher Anna Maria Gutschi, navigated through the deep recesses of the parking garage, seeking the most resonant sound. The acoustics in these cavernous corridors were found to be particularly rich, mirroring the natural acoustics found in mountainous regions.
Graz, although not situated in the Alps, lies in a broad, flat basin surrounded by hills and low mountain ranges on its eastern edge. This geographical setting presented a challenge for yodelling, a traditional Alpine practice used for communication across valleys. However, the Styrian Folk Song Association found a solution in the city's unconventional spaces, hosting yodelling sessions in places like canals and petrol stations, each offering distinct acoustic qualities.
The practice of yodelling, which evolved from a necessity for herders and farmers to communicate in the mountains, has since grown into a form of folk music, performed in choirs, festivals, and even music schools. Yet, its spirit continues to find new expressions in surprising urban settings, such as the underground car park in Graz, illustrating the enduring adaptability and versatility of this traditional music form.
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