Tiba
The Tiba is a natural trumpet made of wood or metal from the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It was played by shepherds on Maiensässen and in the Alps.
distribution
The Tiba, also called Hirtenhorn, was only played in the canton of Graubünden in the middle and lower Surselva , in Domleschg and Schamsertal up to Schamserberg . In other regions and valleys of Graubünden it was well known, but not in use.
instrument
The Tiba differs from the alphorn in its shortness and straight shape. As with the alphorn, natural tones can be played, the number of which depends on the length of the instrument and the skill of the player. However, its tone is sharper and more targeted than the alphorn and can be heard up to a distance of eight kilometers. Shorter tibiae are about one meter long, larger ones reach a length of about 1.70 meters.
Old Tibas are made of wood, newer ones from the 19th and 20th centuries are made of sheet metal . The wooden tibas were made of fir or elder wood and were made by the shepherds themselves. They were put together from two exactly joined tube halves, pegged and additionally held together with rings made of horn, wood or wire.
With the advent of sheet metal in the kitchen and household, the wooden tibas, like many household items, were replaced by sheet metal. In the 1930s and 1940s, the empty cooking oil cans of large hotels, which were shaped and soldered into Tibas, provided first-class material for Tibas. Here and there particularly valuable tibiae were made from copper. A mouthpiece was used for wooden and tin tibas.
commitment
The Tiba was used for communication with the neighboring Alps, with the relatives in the village and for driving in and driving out the cattle. It was also played to pass the time and a virtuoso game challenged the comrade on the neighboring alp.
Little is known about the tone sequences played. It is believed that the notes and their meaning have been discussed. For the listeners in the valley it was often not possible to determine with certainty where the sounds came from; one inferred to the player based on the style of play or previously agreed tone sequences.
Six long and six short beeps were an alarm signal. Tradition reports from the Flimserstein that after a brutal attack by cattle thieves, the only survivor with his Tiba alerted the village clerk Gion Paul in Flims.
Tibada
On June 21, 2010 a Tibada took place in the Surselva, a signal relay in which simple tone sequences were transmitted via the stations Falera - Ladir - Luven - Sevgein - Falera. The greatest distance from Sevgein to Falera was 4.2 kilometers. Since then, a Tibada has been held every year.
exhibition
The Museum Regiunal Surselva showed until the end of March 2011 the exhibition “Tiba Töne - Tuns da Tibas”, at which over 50 Tibas made of different materials were shown. Many people from the region made their Tibas, which were still stored in alpine huts, available to the museum for the exhibition.
photos
Shepherd with Tiba above Disentis around 1920
Blechtibas
old wooden tibas
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Almost forgotten signals from the mountains. Southeastern Switzerland, August 18, 2014
- ↑ Tibadas 2018 with Balthasar Streiff, August 14, 2018. Museum Regiunal Surselva