The "Alpine Horn" is unusual , characteristic and now famous musical instrument that has been used in Switzerland for many centuries.. The records show that it dates back to at least 1527 but it was not really a musical instrument originally because it was not easy to transport nor included in an orchestra. The horn was used to send messages from one village to another, or between shpherds, or even to call the cows home at milking time. The instrument is not typical of Switzrland alone but is used in many alpine areas and even in Asia.