Folk music dances

The Swiss folk music collection from the estate of Hanny Christen was published in 2002 as a ten-volume anthology by Mülirad-Verlag Altdorf. Thanks to the efforts of Fabian Müller and the Gesellschaft für die Volksmusik in der Schweiz (GVS), the life's work of the folklorist and collector, who died in 1976, was belatedly honored. Today, this complete edition, which contains over 10,000 forgotten melodies and dances from almost all regions of the country, is a valuable source for our traditional folk music. The ten volumes can also be purchased as a download from Mülirad-Verlag.

Since then, various authors have arranged individual pieces from the Hanny Christen collection for polyphonic ensembles. Most of these editions have also been published by Mülirad-Verlag, including the music booklets Flums, Säntis and Ticino by Roland Fink. The versatile composer, choirmaster and arranger from Alten ZH is now publishing two more booklets: Dances d'Avenches and Davos dancesthis time self-published.

The arrangements are in three parts, printed as a score for two melody instruments and guitar. An optional bass part and transposing wind parts are available from the author on request. The first part is designed for alto recorder, but can also be played by transverse flute, violin, accordion or clarinet. Roland Fink suggests the second part, which he composed himself: Violin, accordion or clarinet, depending on the range of the pieces also oboe or flute.

The keys of the Mülirad anthology were transposed to suit this instrument, mostly to the subdominant (a fourth up). This suits the alto recorder in the upper part. For the violin, however, individual pieces go up to the fifth position. The second parts sound good, but also require experienced performers. In ensemble lessons with young people, these arrangements will be a lot of fun, but demand a lot of technical skill from the participants.

The Hanny Christen collection is divided into regions of Switzerland. Roland Fink gives the individual pieces their own regional names, unless they already have an individual title: Parsenner Schottisch, Pischa-Polka, Brämabüel-Mazurka etc. Although this is not "Urtext", it makes it easier to navigate the musical journey through Switzerland, which is also enhanced by the appealing illustrations by Alexandra Fink-Thali.

Dances d'Avenches, Swiss folk music from the 19th and 20th centuries, collected by Hanny Christen, set for two melody instruments and guitar with optional bass part by Roland Fink, Fr. 22.00, www.rolandfinksingers.ch

Id. Davos Dances