Stimmhorn

Emerging as one of Switzerland's most original musical ensembles, Stimmhorn fuses organic acoustics, crafted instruments, and overtone vocal techniques. Performances staged in churches and comparably resonant spaces have prompted characterizations such as "technoparty or secret religious ritual." The project originated in 1995 as the shared artistic vision of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Christian Zehnder, who integrates Mongolian overtone singing with yodeling, and brass-and-woodwinds specialist Balthaser Streiff. A working musician since 1985, Zehnder—born in 1961—trained in music with Raymond Laback and in Japanese philosophy with Tokne Nomaka. Born in 1963, Streiff, whose instruments include Alphorn, Buechel, trumpet, and related forms, is an alumnus of the jazz school in Luzern; alongside his appearances with Stimmhorn he maintains an active teaching practice in trumpet and Alphorn.