The artist portal for corporate events - musicians, artists, artists, show acts

Ephraim Salzmann, a well-known musician and cultural figure from Valais, elicits sounds from folk, pop and world music from the hammered dulcimer. He captivates the audience with his versatile compositions and virtuoso playing.

It combines tradition and modernity

Ephraim Salzmann is known as a musician and sound poet far beyond the country's borders. With his fine sense of sound and rhythm and his music, which combines traditional and modern sounds, he touches his listeners. His Valais dulcimer, which his father built for him and bequeathed to him, is Ephraim Salzmann's constant companion on his musical journeys to different cultures.

Let yourself be enchanted by the sounds of this unique stringed instrument. The musician will be happy to discuss individual wishes for your event with you.

The solo programmes

Ephraim Salzmann plays various sets at his solo performances:

• Solo acoustic set ‘Die Welt ist Klang’ (The world is sound): a journey of sound with the Valais hammered dulcimer and instruments from around the world, including the Swiss hangbalu, Tibetan cymbals, the Irish bodhran and the Indian shruti box
  
  
• Solo acoustic set ‘Hammered dulcimer sounds with Ephraim Salzmann’: a musical presentation focusing on the hammered dulcimer, an instrument of world music
  
  
• Solo electronic set ‘From tradition to modernity’: a musical journey through different styles with the Valaisan hammered dulcimer as well as electronic elements and effects

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The Valais dulcimer

The oldest instruments similar to the hammered dulcimer come from Mesopotamia and are over 3000 years old. The Persian santoor is a direct descendant of these instruments and has evolved over the centuries and spread to India, China, Europe and America. The hammered dulcimer has found a place in various cultures and regions - including Valais.

In duo and trio

Ephraim Salzmann can also be booked in various duo and trio formations.

• With yodeler Regula Ritler, he creates a unique alpine sound experience in a duo that combines tradition and modernity.
  
• In the formation Swiran, he enters into a dulcimer dialog with the Tehran-born musician Davoud Shirazi, who plays the santur.
  
• In a duo with Sam Gruber, Valais dialect songwriter, Ephraim Salzmann creates versatile "Valais Pop" from the deepest valley in Switzerland - sometimes quaint, sometimes cheerful, sometimes thoughtful.
  
• In the trio as Liederalp, three Valais veterans play together, partly improvised, partly composed: Daniel Blatter (guitar, vocals), Gilbert "Speedy" Jossen (bass/effects) and Ephraim Salzmann (percussion and Valais dulcimer).

The artist

As a musician, Ephraim Salzmann has accompanied various bands and renowned artists such as Stefanie Heinzmann for over 20 years and is known for his energetic live performances. He can look back on numerous TV appearances in Switzerland and abroad, for example on "Sing meinen Song - Das Schweizer Tauschkonzert", the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, "100% Schweizer Musik - Sina & Friends" or "Donnschtig-Jass", and can be heard on over 50 music productions and recordings by artists from Switzerland and abroad on the Valais dulcimer and percussion.

Ephraim Salzmann also accompanies artists in the fields of dance, literature and photography; he participates in music videos, creates film music, plays in music projects, at literary events, vernissages, yoga workshops, sound journeys, accompanies drum evenings and organizes courses for young and old.

For his cultural work and musical commitment, Ephraim Salzmann received the Canton of Valais Promotion Prize in 2011, the Local Global Award in the field of world music from the 5Continents world music festival in Martigny in 2019 and the Culture Prize from his home municipality of Naters in 2020.

Request a quotation