Switzerland's Bid for UNESCO Recognition of Yodeling as Intangible Cultural Heritage

Switzerland is pursuing UNESCO recognition to include yodeling on its prestigious list of intangible cultural heritage.

Those distinctive yodel-ay-hee calls that have resonated through the Alps for centuries, later evolving into popular song forms, may soon receive acknowledgment from the United Nations cultural agency based in Paris.

The Swiss government has submitted an application to UNESCO requesting the inclusion of yodeling on its intangible cultural heritage list. A final decision is anticipated before the end of the year.

Contemporary advocates emphasize that yodeling extends far beyond the traditional mountain calls of falsetto-voiced herders in suspenders performing alongside alphorns on green hillsides. It has developed into a sophisticated vocal art form.

Throughout the past century, yodeling clubs have flourished across Switzerland, building upon the tradition and expanding its appeal. The distinctive tones, techniques, and tremolos have penetrated deeper into the international musical lexicon across classical, jazz, and folk genres. American country singers notably incorporated yodeling elements into their music during the late 1920s and 1930s.

Approximately seven years ago, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts became Switzerland's first university to offer formal yodeling instruction.

"In Switzerland, we officially have four languages, but I believe we actually have five. The fifth is yodeling," explained Nadja Rass, a professor at the university, referring to the country's official German, French, Italian and Romansh languages. While yodeling exists in neighboring Austria, Germany, and Italy, Swiss yodeling distinguishes itself through its unique vocal techniques.

In its earliest form, yodeling consisted of chants using wordless vowel sounds, known as "natural yodeling," featuring melodies without lyrics. More recent developments include "yodeling song," which incorporates verses and refrains.

According to the Swiss government, at least 12,000 yodelers participate through approximately 780 groups within the Swiss Yodeling Association.

In Switzerland, Rass explained, yodeling is constructed around the "sound colors of the voice" and features two primary types: one centered in the head - with a "u" sound - and another emanating from deeper in the chest - with an "o" sound.

Even within Switzerland, regional styles vary significantly: yodeling in the northern Appenzell region tends to be "melancholic, slower," while in central regions, the sounds are "more intense and shorter."

What began predominantly as a male activity is now attracting more women in a country that only adopted universal suffrage in 1971. The Appenzell-Innerrhoden region granted equal voting rights to women in local elections as recently as 1990, following a high court ruling.

Julien Vuilleumier, a scientific adviser for the Federal Office of Culture who leads the Swiss application, noted that tracing yodeling's origins is challenging, despite its central role in the imagery of the Swiss Alps.

"Some theories suggest it developed as a means of communication between valleys, utilizing these distinctive sounds that carry over long distances. Others believe it evolved as a form of singing," he said. "What we know with certainty is that yodeling has continuously transformed and updated itself."

UNESCO's committee for Intangible Heritage will announce its decision in mid-December in New Delhi. The classification aims to raise public awareness of arts, craftsmanship, rituals, knowledge, and traditions passed down through generations.

Among the 68 total nominations this year are diverse traditions including Thanakha face powder from Myanmar, Ghanaian highlife music, the fermented Kyrgyz beverage Maksym, and the El Joropo music and dance tradition from Venezuela.

This list differs from the UNESCO World Heritage List, which provides protections for physical sites considered important to humanity, such as Egypt's Pyramids of Giza.

Last year, Japan's sake was among more than 60 cultural elements honored on the intangible heritage list, alongside the Nowruz spring festival in parts of central Asia and the specialized skills of zinc roofers in Paris.

Rass notes that candidates for the intangible heritage list must specify future prospects for their cultural traditions.

"We have developed several projects to ensure yodeling's future. One initiative brings yodeling into primary schools," said Rass, who grew up yodeling herself. She mentioned that 20 Swiss teachers proficient in yodeling are introducing it to their classes.

"One of my life goals is that before I die, every school child in Switzerland will have experienced yodeling during their primary education," she stated. "I believe UNESCO recognition represents an excellent opportunity for yodeling's future."