Sound of silence IV

The alphorn was originally an instrument used by farmers and shepherds to call the cows to be milked on the mountain pastures. Like a recited prayer, it broke through the silence and solitude of the mountain heights with its archaic, vibrating natural tones and delighted people so much that it gradually became an instrument of folk music that was played at social gatherings. The alphorn embodies silence and contemplation as well as community like no other instrument and shows how important cohesion and conviviality are for our well-being.

The Lochus Alphorn Quartet is a formation of professional musicians from the enchanting region of Central Switzerland who push the boundaries of traditional alphorn music and bring a refreshing diversity to the musical landscape. In addition to a traditional repertoire, they also play many of their own arrangements and compositions. Their joy of playing and experimenting with the sounds of nature make this quartet unique. Various TV and radio appearances such as at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, SRF Potzmusig, SRF DOK Typisch Volksmusik etc. have made them well-known and popular.

Lochus Alphorn Quartet
Erwin Füchslin, Markus Sahli, Kevin Schmid, Rolf Willauer, Patrik Stadler

This concert is part of the "Kloster Klang Einsiedeln" series:
Kloster Klang Einsiedeln is much more than a concert series. It is a place of human and musical encounters in Einsiedeln Abbey; 2026 under the title "Sound of Silence". Four concerts in June will revolve around this theme and look at it from the perspectives of spirituality, art, science and community. Four perspectives that also represent the way of life of the monastic community at the monastery. The events open up insights into new worlds and bring the history of the thousand-year-old Einsiedeln monastery to life. Meet inspiring people, marvel at rarely exhibited monastery treasures and Benedictine arts and crafts and listen to wonderful music from 500 years of musical history, performed by renowned ensembles.

In the 9th century, St. Meinrad withdrew as a hermit into the silence of the "Dark Forest" in order to have more time for God and prayer. The Einsiedeln monastery was finally founded in 934 on the site of his hermitage.

What does silence mean in a world full of noise? Even a thousand years after the monastery was founded, people are still searching for silence and its meaning. Is silence the absence of noise or an inner state of mind rooted in mindful presence? Do we have to search for silence or is it already within us? The Kloster Klang series of events follows the question of the "sound of silence".


Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.