Serpent

In this section

• History

  Serpent → ophicleide → euphonion → saxhorn → the modern horn: how the tenor voice of the low brass took its present shape in barely a century.

• What was the serpent

  The serpent was a curved wooden bass wind instrument played with a cup mouthpiece and finger holes. From the late 16th century it supported church voices, then entered bands and orchestras before the ophicleide and valved low brass displaced it.

• What was the ophicleide

  A keyed brass bass instrument of the early 19th century — essentially a brass instrument with woodwind-style keys covering tone holes. It bridged the serpent and the valved euphonium and tuba, then was made obsolete by them.