Flag Swinging and Alphorn Playing In Dagmersellen

I didn't know much about the flag swinging portion of the jodelfest before we arrived in Dagmersellen. It was something completely new and a bit baffling to me. I had only seen flag work done that was choreographed with the music of marching bands. That was not the case in Switzerland.

Apparently, this was nearly a lost folk art until it was revived and supported by the Jodeling Foundation. This first video shows a complete flag swinging competition. From what we could tell, the patterns are all standardized and choreographed, but did not relate to a specified beat, rhythmic pattern, or music of any kind. Apparently, proper form included keeping one hand on the hip at all times and the contestant was NOT allowed to step outside of the circle which looked like a bulls-eye on the floor. (We heard groans from the audience when this happened.) The competition was held in a specially built facility with high clearance for tossing and it protected the competitors from the wind.

I already posted a picture of this women's alphorn ensemble, but they were my favorite. Here's another photo and a sample of their performance. The cowbells you might hear in the background are from the farm behind the venue.

The final video is from the Friday evening entertainment. It combines the Dagmersellen Alphorn Quartet and two flag swingers. Notice that the flag waving has nothing to do with the music!