Altfrentsche Besetzung

Line-up:
Matthias Lincke vl/voc, Elias Menzi dulcimer, Matthias Härtel db/voc

As free spirits of traditional string music, the violinist Matthias Lincke, Elias Menzi on the Appenzell dulcimer and bass violinist and yodel Hiasl combine their traditional roots with their urge for spontaneous musical expression. In the traditional "Altfrentscher instrumentation" (violin, dulcimer, double bass), they surprise with daring combinations of string music and improvisation.

The trio plays with unusual sounds in the field of tension between the odd jazz of a Thelonious Monk and classic Appenzell string music, shaped by musical families such as the Mosers or Alders. In doing so, they touch on all kinds of inviting, but also impassable areas - a musical departure.

Altfrentsch is a term in the Appenzell dialect that is rarely used today and goes back to the German expression Old Franconian. Coming from Middle High German Old Vrenkisch (in the manner of the old Franks), it means something like old-fashioned, according to old custom.