30 Singers Yodel Underground

Around 30 singers participated in a yodelling course in Graz's Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Kai underground car park, led by teacher Anna Maria Gutschi. The course took advantage of the car park's broad corridors and reflective walls, which generated echoes similar to those found high in the mountains.

The Styrian Folk Song Association, which organized the course, has also staged yodelling sessions in other unusual locations, including canals and petrol stations. This approach aims to introduce yodelling to new audiences and draw on the distinctive acoustics of unexpected locations.

No previous musical training was needed for the course, which brought together beginners and experienced singers. The practice of yodelling originated in Alpine communities as a means of communication, where herders and farmers used it to communicate across valleys and between mountain pastures.

## Why it matters The tradition of yodelling has since developed into folk music and spread to various venues, including choirs, festivals, and music schools. By taking yodelling to unconventional urban venues such as underground car parks, the Styrian Folk Song Association is helping to keep the tradition alive and make it accessible to a wider audience.

The city of Graz, situated in a broad, relatively flat basin surrounded by hills and low mountain ranges on its eastern edge, may not seem like an obvious location for yodelling. However, the underground car park provided a unique solution to the city's geography, allowing singers to experience the distinctive acoustics of the mountains in an urban setting.

The success of the yodelling course in the underground car park suggests that this traditional practice can thrive in unexpected locations, and that its unique sound can be appreciated by new audiences. As the Styrian Folk Song Association continues to stage yodelling sessions in unusual locations, it is likely that this traditional practice will continue to evolve and find new fans.