Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2024 15 Alphn backyard patio surrounded by beautiful gardens with red and white geraniums (Swiss colors) and other plantings near a fence that kept the cows at bay. Aerwards, members socialized over refreshments, jokes, and storytelling, and as a result a small community of like-minded people was built. Doing that had a profound effect upon the sound and success of the ensemble. Glenn named Will Zell as the Cultural Director of the Society. When Call le Rochester, NY for his scuba diving work, Zell studied alphorn and music fundamentals with Marcia Bornhurst Parkes. Later, aer the Zell's local move, the ensemble held a celebratory, public performance in their honor.. Call attracted several people to the alphorn society (see photo). Ron Wiegand assisted him from 2010-2017 as a manager; later he led rehearsals and co-led the ensemble with Andrew Fischer from 2015-2017. Fischer's term as music director began in October 2018. Others lead occasionally, and another member leads concerts with the Central New York Alphorn Society. Several member-connectors are eager to help others envision how they might play this wonderful instrument. Society members come from various family backgrounds and careers, they have unique interests, and most hold college degrees. Many enjoy being outside, and some have expressed that they receive physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual benefits from playing the alphorn. One stated that his health has improved, and that "since being introduced to the warm sound of the Alphorn by Glenn Call, I knew that as I grew older and feeble, the alphorn would be the last instrument that I would give up." Many have said that camaraderie among the musicians adds to their overall happiness. All but one member's primary instrument is a brass instrument, and many play more than one. One member, a flutist, studied brass instrumental technique methods to be prepared for a career in music education. Several members also play secondary instruments such as flugelhorn, euphonium, trombone, tuba, drums, bag pipes, piano, saxophone, recorder, and conch. e ensemble performs throughout western and central New York as a full ensemble or as separate organizations and the repertoire includes mostly trios and quartets of various styles such as folk tunes, waltzes, marches, and songs. Both ensembles enjoy performing for spring, summer, and fall music festivals, blossom and harvest season events, and for audiences of all types. Being in natural environments, such as parks, the woods, or the mountains, adds to members' and the audiences' joys while performing. One member, a French hornist, indicated that his uncle had a farm that had hills and a silo, and he enjoyed the echo effect from both, which is obtainable while playing the alphorn. Another member felt that "e rich sound of multiple alphorns outdoors is quite impressive and evocative." Another member shared that "When I bought my Alphorn in 2011, I was able to visit the maker of my horn while on a business trip in Europe. He called a friend, and we played as a trio on Möehnesee in Germany (east of Dortmund). It is a man-made lake with a tall dam. We played on top of the dam for the entertainment of people strolling by. en we walked down to the bottom of the dam. We stood about 50 meters away and played the horn. e sound of the echo resonating off the dam was really special." Many members feel that camaraderie is a highly valuable aspect of membership in the Society. One person said that "the most important thing about Society membership is the part of getting to know other people from different walks of life. While almost all are musicians of some background, the talent that gathers spurs you on to become better at what you do. is results in building up your own self-confidence as well as improving your own ability. e facets of planning music gigs and making new contacts are invaluable. I would never have imagined I would play for a wedding on a mountain top, or planned a gig or two on my own, or made repairs as I have without being a member of a group." While hiking in Switzerland and and Austria, this author and her husband, both of whom are musicians, enjoyed the active life of hiking the alps in rural areas where we saw various livestock, and cheese was being made. We walked well- labeled pathways that took us from one village to another. Various forms of transportation were used, including the funicular to see the views from high elevations, and we visited the well- known Trümmelbach Falls, near Lauterbrunnen. In metropolitan areas such as Salzburg, we attended concerts and operas and enjoyed all that urban living affords, such as delicious fare found in traditional restaurants; in Munich we enjoyed an Oktoberfest atmosphere prior to our return flight to the United States. Every aspect of those two hiking journeys inspired us, including hearing traditional music and seeing a glass alphorn above a serving area in a restaurant. Oh, how I wanted to play it, but we were guests. Oh, how wonderful it was to socialize with local people despite the differences of our native tongues. Oh, how fortunate we society members are to have opportunities to learn to play the alphorn and play it wherever anyone will listen. As a community of colleagues, we know and feel the peace and joy that comes from making beautiful music come alive, and for that we are grateful. An initiate of Epsilon, Dr. Marcia Bornhurst Parkes has served in many Rochester Alumnae Chapter roles, including president. She is the founder of Insightful Music Leadership, a founder of the New York State Band Directors Association, and a member of the Alphorn Society of Western New York. For more information, please go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbparkes Article Contributors rticle Contributors James M. Bell Raymond Bratt David Brown Glenn K. Call, Founder, Music Director, Retired Eileen K. Call Andrew Fischer, Music Director and Former Co-Director Steven N. Landgren Peter Leas Paul J. Sherman Ron Weigand, Former Co-Director Figurine of a man Figurine of a man playing the alphorn. playing the alphorn.

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