Grenzenlos lüpfig – Zur Geschichte der Volksmusik in Graubünden

Folk music knows no boundaries. It has continuously changed through various influences. In the 19th century, the Grisons farmer bands played a colorful mix of alpine dance melodies. "Ländlermusik" emerged in the early 20th century with the introduction of the accordion into dance bands. The new musical style first became popular in Zurich and Bern before reaching Graubünden. At the National Exhibition in 1939, Ländlermusik was declared the Swiss national music. In Schanfigg, the clarinetist Luzi Brüesch (1866–1946) from Passugg/Araschgen and Josias Jenny (1920–1989) from Arosa with his Schwyzerörgeli shaped the "Grisons style" of Swiss folk music. From the 1960s onwards, the Schwyzerörgeli player Peter Zinsli (1934−2011) became a national media star. Christian "Hitsch" Jenny (1927–2022) was also well-known with his "Schanfigger Ländlerquintett." Untouched by modern entertainment music, Ländlermusik remained unchanged in style and instrumentation until the 1970s. Since then, the folk music scene has gradually opened up to diverse playing styles. Today, it presents itself both traditionally as well as innovatively and experimentatively. Silvia Conzett