Archaeological records of the Alphorn in Switzerland date back nearly two
thousand years.  Early instruments in the mountainous regions of the alps
were used for signaling and to announce daily activities.  Since ancient
times the Alphorn has sounded as a part of the daily activities of the shepherds
and cowherds of these mountain people. The Alphorn was used to calm the dairy
cows at milking time. It was the twilight signal for the flocks of sheep to
settle in for the night as the shepherds exchanged rustic melodies across the
valleys. Such melodies became ritual signals for "All is Well in the Valley" and
were passed down through countless generations, from shepherd father to shepherd
son. The sound of the Alphorn called the people to gather for council and the
men to gather for war.

Today the alphorn is not used by herdsman for signaling, but primarily by
musicians.  The horn is about twelve feet long and is carved or bored in
wood and overwound with birch bark or caning.   Modern alphorns are
also made with a carbon-fiber composite, making them lightweight and
compact.  Sound is produced in a manner similar to brass instruments by the
vibration of the performers lips. Due to its conical bore the Alphorn produces a
mellow, and reverberant sound that can carry for long distances.  The
instrument has a four-octave range. Since the Alphorn has no keys, valves, or
slides, it is not a chromatic instrument. This means that it can only produce
the pitches in its overtone series and cannot sound those pitches in between.