A new songbook for both Appenzells
A new Appenzell songbook commissioned by the two half-cantons contains 95 songs from the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. The illustrated song collection contains both established and new songs.
The songs were selected by a 15-member working group consisting of many musical experts. According to overall project manager Vreni Kölbener, the focus of the new Appenzell songbook is on what they have in common, despite the different dialects, spellings and melodies.
The Innerrhoden songbook was published in 1968. In Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Johann Heinrich Tobler published a first work as early as 1807, which has been updated several times over the last two centuries, most recently in 1952 under the title "Aus der Heimat". Both songbooks, which were standard literature in schools and singing groups for decades, have been published several times but are now out of print. The impetus for a new edition and updating of this collection of Appenzell songs came from Appenzell Innerrhoden.
In 2014, the Director of Education and current State Assemblyman Roland Inauen commissioned a revision of the songbook. Shortly afterwards, the Ausserrhoden Department of Education and Culture followed suit. Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerhoden decided to compile a joint songbook in which tried-and-tested songs were to be preserved and new songs included. The directors of education Roland Inauen (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and Alfred Stricker (Appenzell Ausserrhoden) see the song heritage of the two cantons as a great cultural treasure, which is now being made accessible to singers in a new form.
A particularly valuable addition to the new "Appenzeller Liederbuch" are the numerous illustrations created by the artist and art teacher Werner Meier. A glossary in the appendix helps to better understand individual dialect words.
The Appenzell songbook is published in a print run of 15,000 copies, costs CHF 24 and can be obtained from bookshops (ISBN 978-3-033-06739-4). The new Appenzell songbook will be distributed to schools via the cantonal teaching material administrations. The total costs for the joint project amount to around 150,000 francs, with a great deal of voluntary work involved. The songbook is financed by various foundations and the two cantons.
