Generations by Rocky Mountain Alphorns
The Swiss Alphorn is a herdsman’s instrument whose haunting melodies have been passed down from father to son through many generations. That tradition is present in this collaboration between father and son duo William & Jim Hopson, both of whom are internationally acclaimed Alphorn performers.
The spirit of this project is expressed in the Herdsman’s Prayer, variations of which open, centre, and close the album. This melody is in the nature of a prayer. It is traditional to the valleys above Interlaken, high in the Alps. Alphorn blowers would sound the melody every evening after sunset – powerful evidence of the Alphorn’s enduring place in the hearts of the people, and the resolute and indomitable character of the Swiss.
Tracklist
| 1. | Hoch uf em Baerg, tief in Thal | 1:09 |
| 2. | Moos-Ruef | 3:56 |
| 3. | Am Waldhuesli | 2:13 |
| 4. | Solitude | 2:40 |
| 5. | Solitude - Reprise | 1:20 |
| 6. | Der Frutt-Kuhreihen | 2:49 |
| 7. | Swiss Guides' Call | 4:13 |
| 8. | Vo Gstaad Oben Abe | 1:59 |
| 9. | Hoch uf em Baerg, tief im Thal - Duet | 3:58 |
| 10. | Diemtiger Reihe | 2:27 |
| 11. | Willi Melodie | 1:50 |
| 12. | Pastoral Improvisation | 5:01 |
| 13. | Jodelhorn | 3:20 |
| 14. | Am Waldhuesli Uber Schaenis | 3:01 |
| 15. | Ruhig | 3:58 |
| 16. | Alphorn Shuffle | 3:17 |
| 17. | Hoch uf em Berg, tief im Thal - Reprise | 1:09 |
Credits
Musicians by Track Number:
William Hopson: Alphorn (1-4, 6-11, 14, 15, 17)
Jim Hopson: Alphorn (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11-13, 15, 16), Trombone (13), Tuba (13), Bass Guitar (16)
Alexander Flock: Guitar (16)
Sam Cartwright: Drums (16)
Ben Henriques: Recording Engineer
Brad Turner: Mastering Engineer
Gary Dunham: Graphic Design
Ingrid Desilets & Klaus Zahnd: Translations
Special Thanks: Marissa Deans, Jamie Croil, Richard Theiss, Tony & Robert Brazelton.
Recorded at St. Andrew’s Wesley Church in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
All tracks performed on Rocky Mountain Alphorns handmade by William Hopson.
For more info, sheet music and recordings:
William Hopson: alphorn.ca
Jim Hopson: phonosmusic.com
License
All rights reserved.
Jim Hopson is an exciting and eclectic multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and improviser based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. A sonic architect of genre-bending earworms, his music is both sophisticated and accessible. A noted Alphorn virtuoso, he uses his 5+ octave range and exceptional flexibility to guide the instrument into uncharted territory.