Jodelling

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A vocal technique involving the rapid alternation of pitch between the chest and falsetto registers, often used in alpine folk music
2. A form of singing that features high and low notes in quick succession, commonly associated with the cultural traditions of the Swiss Alps
3. An expressive style of vocal performance that combines melodic yodels with sustained tones, frequently performed in rural and mountainous regions

Etymology: "Jodelling" is the -ing form of "jodel", the British spelling of "yodel" with a doubled "l" before the ending, as British usage requires. The verb comes from German "jodeln", which describes singing that switches quickly between the chest voice and a high falsetto. That rapid break between registers is the sound associated with Alpine herders calling across valleys, and it is what the German verb names. The English spelling varies, but the sense has stayed the same.

Synonyms: yodeling