Traditional music from the Chablais Region
This recording highlights music from an area which, due to its unique geographic location, is of particular interest both musically and culturally. It also includes rare takes of carillon music.
The Chablais region
At first sight, the Chablais region appears a somewhat indefinable entity. Geographically, the Chablais extends from the waters of Lake Geneva to the snow-capped summits of the “Dents du Midi” and “Les Diablerets” (at the altitude of 3000 meters).
Via the “Morgins Pass” and other openings, the Chablais of the Valais reaches out across the franco-Swiss frontier to Savoy. The Pillon Pass serves as connection to Bernese Saanenland. However, the Rhone Plain itself has been for years a communication hub for people and ideas. This geographic diversity explains Chablais region’s culutral wealth. On the Valaisan side, particulary in the Illiez Valley, its songs have been passed from generation to generation. Festival, carnival and other celebrations are still popular and attracted in early times Vaudois people to cross the Rhone to escape the austerity of Calvinism.
On the Vaud side itself, only committed efforts of researchers, collectors or composers helped to revive forgotten melodies or to create new ones.
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