Suspire,

Have you seen that Swiss roots website that someone mentioned here? It's www.swissroots.org. It sounds like you have already located your ancestral villages, but it has lots of other good information too. Now I'm trying to track down my husbands's great-grandfather (Schüpbach). There seem to be quite a few in the Bern and Thun areas.

As for yodeling being "blood-curdling"---no, it really is beautiful. The yodeling we heard was a cappella singing in harmony, without words; just sounds weaving in and out.

One of the occasions was after a Dorffest in Mürren---it was the first Saturday in August.

Enzian - oh, no, I don't think yodeling is blood-curdling - I think MY yodeling could be blood-curdling!! I don't know if I have the knack.

I just found out that the Emmental Valley is having a commemorative year in 2007 for anabaptists - which is my ancestry! Talk about coincidence and good timing! I don't recognize the name Schüpbach as anabaptist, but I don't know them all.

I am definitely going to have to find a place to hear some yodeling! I really think it's beautiful.

Suspire,
I too am planning a 2007 trip. A brochure reating to activities around Lake Luzern came today. In it is information about yodelling this year in Klewenalp. It mentions a Yodelling Mass in the Klewenalp Chapel on request. You may want to keep it in mind for next year. [email protected] and www.klewenalp.ch

My grandparents, Thaler/Siegrist, were married in Tagerwilen in 1889 and came to the USA right after that. Supposedly one side of the family was in the candy business and the other in furniture.

ooops, I didn't check the site first. It's in German but you may get info by emailing them.

Thanks, Ronkala - I will check that out!

YO! Last year before we went to Switzerland, I took an online yodeling class with my daughter. It was hysterical! We were awful. I heard some yodeling in Wengen, and it was very soft and melodical. Not all that falsetto vocal aerobics! So, to get you in the mood, here's a link:http://www.yodelcourse.com/
Not sure if that's the one we did, but do a google search and you'll find some help. Have fun!