What you can’t say, you just have to sing 
Yodeling workshop with Daniel Fuchsberger 

Customs, craft traditions and various cultural techniques appear again and again in the collaborative works of Isabel Lewis and Dirk Bell — whether it’s fermenting vegetables together, the interweaving of sound art with the preparation of soup, tea ceremonies, making music or, as in their exhibition Ever/​Repair and the performance Total Romance: Every Repair, the carnival custom of Junkanoo, which is mainly found in the Caribbean and North America.

The two artists are interested in all these various forms essentially because of two motifs: they bring people together, and they are a form of communication. This is also where their relationship with yodeling lies, which is why the artists have arranged an event exploring it. Although the practice is native to the Alpine region, numerous similar forms of song featuring meaningless syllables or singing which alternates between chest and head voice can be found all over the world. Historically, the purpose of this singing is probably derived from the fact that a kind of signaling device was needed to communicate across complex landscapes in mountain regions. A musical tradition can also be assumed. In Styria, the practice is commonly refered to as Ludler. During the event, a short piece of music will be performed and practical instructions will be given on how to yodel.