Swiss musician (1983?2023)
Eliana Burki
(13 September 1983 in
Feldbrunnen
? 24 April 2023 in Switzerland) was a Swiss musician, best known for her unconventional playing of the
alphorn
. She composed and performed on the alphorn as a lead instrument in multiple genres, including pop,
funk
and
world music
.
[1]
At the same time, she succeeded in creating her own musical niche, which brought her international attention, media coverage and bookings for concerts all over the world.
[2]
Biography
[
edit
]
Eliana Burki has been playing the alphorn since she was six years old. One of her first public appearances was at the Northwestern Switzerland
Yodeling
Festival in
Schonenwerd
, when she played among men at the age of nine.
[3]
As she didn't like the traditional behaviour surrounding the alphorn, she didn't play in a traditional costume, as is usually the case when playing the alphorn. As a teenager, she discovered her fondness for
blues
and
jazz
compositions.
[4]
Burki broke off her training as a veterinary assistant at the age of 16. She studied piano and singing at the Basel University of Music, as alphorn was not available as a subject. She repeatedly played classical alphorn concerts as a soloist with various orchestras. In addition to her work as a musician, she provided free music therapy at a children's clinic in
Davos
for children with
cystic fibrosis
.
Burki and her band (I Alpinisti) have performed worldwide. She made special appearances at the team draw for
Euro 2008
and as an ambassador for Swiss music. The CD
Heartbeat
, which was produced with David Richards at Mountain Studios, was released in 2007. This was followed in 2011 by the album
Travellin' Root
, produced by John Boylan. On the album
Alpine Horn Symphonic
(2012), she performed as a soloist with the
Munich Radio Orchestra
led by Johannes Schlaefli, playing works by Daniel Schnyder, Jean Daetwyler and herself.
Her album
Arcardia
(2016) was created in collaboration with producer Christian Lohr and the Solis String Quartet. Burki made her last concert appearance on 14 February 2023 as a soloist in Jean Daetwyler's Alphorn Concerto with the Braunschweig State Orchestra at the Scharoun Theatre in Wolfsburg.
[5]
In addition to classic wooden alphorns, Burki also used lighter, extendable instruments made of
carbon fibre
. The "Burki horn", an alphorn she developed with a trumpet/whale horn valve (wind instrument) attachment, also allows the formation of chromatic tones, in contrast to the scale of the classical instrument, which is limited to the natural tone series.
Burki lived in
Solothurn
and Los Angeles, and the last two years before her death in
Biel
, Switzerland. She died on 24 April 2023 at the age of 39 as a result of a
brain tumour
. She is survived by her partner, the US writer Blas Ulibarri, and two children.
[6]
Awards
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"NZZ am Sonntag ? E-Paper"
.
epaper.nzz.ch
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
- ^
Verlag Axel Stinshoff, Koln.
"Jazz thing & Blue Rhythm: News, Rezensionen, Konzerte, Festivals, Jazz in Fernsehen und Radio"
.
Jazz, Zeitschriften, Rezensionen, Nachrichten, Termine
(in German)
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
- ^
"Alphorn-Queen zwischen Pop und Funk"
.
SWI swissinfo.ch
(in German). 2005-05-30
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
- ^
Arztezeitung, SAEZ Schweizerische (2006-03-08).
"Das Alphorn fur mehr Musik in der Medizin"
.
saez.swisshealthweb.ch
(in German)
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
- ^
"Eliana Burki ? TOBS Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn"
.
www.tobs.ch
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
- ^
https://www.blick.ch/people-tv/schweiz/sie-liltt-an-hirntumor-alphornistin-eliana-burki-39-gestorben-id18521972.html
Alphornistin Eliana Burki (†39) gestorben. In: Blick.ch. 26 April 2023.
- ^
https://www.prixwalo.ch/fileadmin/redaktion/Bilder_2/PRIX_WALO/39.PRIX-WALO/Nominationsbroschuere_39_PRIX_WALO.pdf
Kurt Meier: "39. Prix Walo: Die Nominierten", 21 February 2013, p. 7
- ^
"39. Prix Walo ? PRIX WALO"
.
www.prixwalo.ch
. Retrieved
2023-12-24
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Artists
| |
---|