Tootle of a Devilish Song

The sounds of yodeling have been echoing through the Alps for at least 400 years, likely more. But its origins are shrouded in mountain mist. The eerie, warbling sound might have been first used by cattle herders in the mountains, communicating across long distances; or as part of religious ceremonies; or just for fun. What we do know is that over the centuries, yodeling became inseparable from the Swiss national identity, both as a folk tradition and as a finely honed performance. But in the early 1800’s something happened that would help launch the yodel from a pastoral pastime into a global sensation. This very Swiss style of singing escaped the Alps, traveled across the Atlantic and helped define a quintessentially American style of music.