The old
alphorn was played without a mouthpiece, the horn’s end was
directly carved into the shape of a small funnel.
The mouthpieces depend on the shape of the lips of each one,
the principle being that the player practicing the
low-pitched repertoire will use a large diameter one and on
the contrary, a player in the high-pitched will take a
smaller one.
The alphorn is therefore the amplifier of the sound caused
by the vibration of the lips on the edge of the mouthpiece.
In my case, I only use native woods with the right
properties. The denser the wood is, the less loss occurs, as
the sound is much less absorbed.
So it is essences such as boxwood, acacia, lilac, dogwood,
hornbeam and a few others that are used. What a pity to
sacrifice rare exotic woods such as ebony, rosewood, etc.,
while our forests provide us with the equivalent.
Now that you know almost everything about mouthpieces, don’t
be afraid, come and say hello, and try to put your lips on
one of them to give you the typical thrill of listening of
the sound of the alphorn.
Morisod François alphorn maker.
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