Switzerland is characterised not only by the diversity of its topography - valleys, lakes and Alpine peaks. A vast cultural diversity is an essential part of its make-up, too. This recording brings to you the music of southern Italian-speaking, and western French-speaking Switzerland. The people of these regions have a reputation for their cheerfulness and high spirits.

Although decidedly small in size, Switzerland boasts four language groups and at least as many ethnoregional mentalties whose influence becomes apparent in the various specific types of folk music.

Listen to the folk music played in the French-speaking cantons of Western Switzerland: Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel and Jura. And to this played in Italian-speaking canton Ticino south of the Alps.

The people of these cantons have a reputation for their cheerfulness, high spirits, gregariousness and sheer zest for life.

While a distinct, autonomous culture has developed in each linguistic area, every one of them shows unmistakeable traces of influences from adjacent regions. Especially from neighbouring countries.

Swiss folk music lives!

Furthermore, in the spirit of an authentic, dynamic, living tradition, Swiss folk music has not shut itself off from contemporary influences. As a result, its appeal to the younger generation has grown considerably in recent years.

Production information

Folk Music from Western and Southern Switzerland (1996). CCF CD 3320.2. Produced for SRI by Patrick Linder.

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