Rencontre internationale du Cors des Alpes  

Come and vibrate to the sounds of the Horns! La Rencontre Internationale du Cor des Alpes attracts not only passionate musicians, but also a large audience of curious onlookers and lovers of Alpine traditions. It's an exceptional opportunity to discover this majestic instrument, whose deep, haunting sound resonates across the mountains.

On the program:

Saturday afternoon: bands will perform at various farm inns: Le Glasborn, le Forlet, le Musmis, le Buchwald, le Rothenbrunnen, le Ried, l'auberge Obersolberg and le Strohberg. Around twenty groups will be present in the farm inns as well as in the EHPADs (Foyer Caroline, Foyer du Parc and Loewel in Munster) and at the Maison du Fromage.

Saturday evening:
- From 6:30 pm at the Soultzeren village hall, concert - aperitif by all the ringers and meal open to the public (subject to availability) (bookings with the Soultzeren Comité des fêtes on 06 07 10 07 08).
- After the meal, around 9 pm concert by small groups of the various ringing groups, open to the public subject to availability.

Sunday morning:
- Tannoy groups will play at various venues: church services, cheese houses, village squares.
- From 11:30 am at the Stosswihr village hall, musical aperitif and meal open to the public (prior registration on 06 72 26 52 96). Refreshments and sale of tarts flambées.

Sunday afternoon at the Stosswihr village hall, concert by the various ringing bands present at 4pm and grand finale concert by all the ringers.

Le collectif des sonneurs de la vallée de Munster: It was in January 2024 that the idea of organizing an Alpine Horn meeting in the Valley along the lines of the one that previously existed in Munster took shape. The Collectif des Sonneurs de la Vallée was thus born out of the association of three local groups:
- l'Echo des deux lacs de Soultzeren
- l'Echo du Gaschney de Stosswihr
- les Menschtertaler Alphorn Bloser de Munster

Through exchange with other European formations, we aim to increase, enrich and diversify horn playing in our valley. Each group develops its own identity, but knows how to merge happily into the collective to form a giant sound.

Alpenhorn and schalmei
Once a means of communication between alpine pastures and villages, schalmei and alphorns now occupy an essential place in our traditional music heritage. These popular trumpets, made of metal
or wood, emanate a quiet power that inspires calm and serenity. Formerly used by solitary marcaires, these horns are now played in small groups that indulge in the joys of harmony and counterpoint. In 1999, two trios of Alpine horn enthusiasts joined forces to create the ECHO DU GASCHNEY and keep this instrument alive in our beautiful Munster valley. Our group currently comprises seven players, and our 93-year-old oldest member is also the maker of our horns. This is how we take pleasure in sounding and transmitting these sweet melodies in our mountains and far beyond. Anyone wishing to practice this instrument will be most welcome. Contact: Jean-Marc MEYER jean-marc.meyer15@orange.fr