Our local church was renovated in the early 1960's, and a serpent (along with another instrument which I can't remember) was found that had been stored and forgotten about. The church was built in 1860-63 to replace a much older church (Circa 1256-1260) whose roof collapsed in a storm, and it was believed that the serpent may have come from _that_ church as the later one had an organ right from the start - something the older church never had.
I have a cheap plastic Jhorn which tunes better on the whole although this serpent does have interesting deep notes. I would expect: hard to play but still with a somewhat exotic, rich and full sound. That the volume and projection would be less good is no problem musically speaking.
@@southfloridaarcheryguy114 I believe we are talking about the ability to control the pitch of an instrument you are playing, but you raise a fair point. It was at least a hundred years before bach's WTC that these were first used.
Back in the 1960s there was a recording of Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music," played in its original instrumentation. King George wanted the work played entirely by woodwinds and brass, without any stringed instruments. As I recall, it was recorded late at night, after all the woodwind players in London's five (I think) symphony orchestras had finished their various concerts, just to get enough oboes and bassoons together in one place. I don't remember the numbers, but it had to be something like three dozen oboes and a couple of dozen bassoons--and a serpent. Wonderful sound with all those woodwinds playing together!
I watched/listened to a guy playing one of these in a quartet a bit ago. He was excellent. However; I think he was using a modernized version specifically engineered to be in perfect pitch. The sound was really amazing compared to an original or a new one staying with the original design, dimensions, style of manufacture. I like the instrument but moreso the re-engineered modern version. I really liked this demonstration of an old style instrument.
Little do you know the rabbit hole you sent me down. Now Im researching history of durch cape colonies and their civilization in south africa. And found pictures in a article of the serpent your most likely talking about in a church that is now a museum in south africa. Since the europeans were using the serpent in churches back then its cool to see they brought it with them to south africa most likely.
I had head of the serpent from the soundtrack for the film Alien, by Jerry Goldsmith, the soundtrack really uses the serpent well to give such a haunting atmosphere.
Someone from the 15-1800s be like: "Yeah let's use something really difficult to play that sounds like someone's butt vibrating at different frequencies and has awful intonation for the lowest voice of our bands which is arguably the most important." A different guy listening: "You are a goddamn genius!"
To be fair, basically as soon as valves were invented for brass instruments, people started trying to make them free-er blowing and larger bore, and tried to make low brass instruments. Berlin pump valves were invented in 1833, and the first bass tuba (with five valves!) was patented just two years later in 1835. Within a couple decades, tubas had largely replaced other low brass instruments, and huge contrabass instruments were being made. Everyone knew the serpent and ophicleide sucked, but they didn't have the tech to do anything better. Long trumpets were manageable, but a valveless 32 or 36 foot tuba would not have worked well.
Hello! This image came from a 19th-century French periodical called Université illustrée, and the print is titled "Chantres au lutrin," by Henri Brispot.
The shofar and related instruments made of animal horns are so old, predating the serpent by so much that we can't really say that the shofar is a direct ancestor to the serpent but humans experimenting with putting holes into animal horns and wood horns to get different notes likely slowy developed into the idea of instruments like the serpent, cornett, zink.... Atleast the idea of it. There is much controvesy over who actually invented the serpent let alone where the idea came from so thats really the best answer.
If you're curious: that's "dies irae", a very old motif that symbols death. Its used in music throughout history all the time and you can hear it in movies pretty often!
The predecessor of the tuba was actually the one ba.
bazinga
Tuba or not tuba
Tubacabura
Americans pronounce it too-bah, in case you didn't get the joke.
(we say chew-bah in my country)
@@firstnamelastname4752 Then how would you pronounce tubaka?
Fun to actually hear a serpent. I read that Handel hated the serpent, and that he once said, “Dot is not der serpent dot tempted Eve.” 😄
Our local church was renovated in the early 1960's, and a serpent (along with another instrument which I can't remember) was found that had been stored and forgotten about. The church was built in 1860-63 to replace a much older church (Circa 1256-1260) whose roof collapsed in a storm, and it was believed that the serpent may have come from _that_ church as the later one had an organ right from the start - something the older church never had.
It's shocking how umstable the tuning is on this instrument, even in the hands of an experienced player.
have you listened to Patrick WIbart play it? Oh my gosh! th-cam.com/video/t9mB72TC8Kw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZoHqrPJzl9hRmjgC
Is it really? I mean look at the thing? This is why it is the Forerunner of low brass and not the sought after today.
I have a cheap plastic Jhorn which tunes better on the whole although this serpent does have interesting deep notes. I would expect: hard to play but still with a somewhat exotic, rich and full sound. That the volume and projection would be less good is no problem musically speaking.
You guys are talking well tempered tuning. This instrument existed way before well tempered.
@@southfloridaarcheryguy114 I believe we are talking about the ability to control the pitch of an instrument you are playing, but you raise a fair point. It was at least a hundred years before bach's WTC that these were first used.
It has a familiar flatulence to it that I adore
Back in the 1960s there was a recording of Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music," played in its original instrumentation. King George wanted the work played entirely by woodwinds and brass, without any stringed instruments. As I recall, it was recorded late at night, after all the woodwind players in London's five (I think) symphony orchestras had finished their various concerts, just to get enough oboes and bassoons together in one place. I don't remember the numbers, but it had to be something like three dozen oboes and a couple of dozen bassoons--and a serpent. Wonderful sound with all those woodwinds playing together!
Please tell if you manage to recall the name!
Just recently got into the wonderful world that is early European wind instruments and as a tubist it’s fun to see what my forebearers played :-)
I loved the choice of the dies irae for the intro song at the beginning
I enjoyed this so much! Thank you for teaching me about this instrument.
I watched/listened to a guy playing one of these in a quartet a bit ago. He was excellent. However; I think he was using a modernized version specifically engineered to be in perfect pitch. The sound was really amazing compared to an original or a new one staying with the original design, dimensions, style of manufacture. I like the instrument but moreso the re-engineered modern version. I really liked this demonstration of an old style instrument.
Unstable tuning, but my god I love the character of the WAH-YUP!
I saw one in Tulbagh, South Africa just today. Very intrigued as to the sound, and here it is. Thank you from Cape Town!
Little do you know the rabbit hole you sent me down. Now Im researching history of durch cape colonies and their civilization in south africa. And found pictures in a article of the serpent your most likely talking about in a church that is now a museum in south africa. Since the europeans were using the serpent in churches back then its cool to see they brought it with them to south africa most likely.
What about the Ophicleide? It was much used in the romantic period before the tuba - the serpent had fallen out of use by that time!
I had head of the serpent from the soundtrack for the film Alien, by Jerry Goldsmith, the soundtrack really uses the serpent well to give such a haunting atmosphere.
Fascinating instrument
This actually sounds awesome.
Un suono antico e affascinante. Bravissimo! Grazie
Fun to share this with our kids! You're awesome, Gabe!
Wonderful tone...
a wonderful musical instrument.... ❤
This was used in Frontier Psychiatrist, I didn't know it was a real thing. 😅
very enjoyable presentation 👍
It was also used in Bernard Hermann's score for journey to the centre of the earth.
The giant iguana oh so scary!
Amazing to actually, finally hear one, but its a wee bit weird to be honest, the tuning seems to be a bit difficult to maintain!
That’s a beautiful instrument.
There is one in Hornimans Museum Forest Hill London.
used in the score to ALIEN by Jerry Goldsmith. He noted the use of two serpents f.e. in the main titles
we gotta bring this back!
Someone from the 15-1800s be like: "Yeah let's use something really difficult to play that sounds like someone's butt vibrating at different frequencies and has awful intonation for the lowest voice of our bands which is arguably the most important."
A different guy listening: "You are a goddamn genius!"
To be fair, basically as soon as valves were invented for brass instruments, people started trying to make them free-er blowing and larger bore, and tried to make low brass instruments. Berlin pump valves were invented in 1833, and the first bass tuba (with five valves!) was patented just two years later in 1835. Within a couple decades, tubas had largely replaced other low brass instruments, and huge contrabass instruments were being made. Everyone knew the serpent and ophicleide sucked, but they didn't have the tech to do anything better. Long trumpets were manageable, but a valveless 32 or 36 foot tuba would not have worked well.
felicitaciones. suena increíble.
The thing I found astonishing was how uncomfortable it is to play. I thought my fingers would dislocate, yeouch.
Punishment for playing this beast 😂😂😂😂
Thanks. I think it sounds more like a bassoon that a tuba. Three cheers for progress.
Look up 'Russian bassoon' which is effectively a serpent but in bassoon-shaped form.
Wow! I play tuba. Wish I could play like this 👏🤜🤛
The tune of the Playford peice you played was originally a song called Fuggi, fuggi, fuggi.
what's the artwork title/artist at :23-:30? Thank you
Hello! This image came from a 19th-century French periodical called Université illustrée, and the print is titled "Chantres au lutrin," by Henri Brispot.
@@ForgottenClefs Fabulous, thank you!
Funky tone, somehow almost has a reedy sound, reminds a little of bassoon
Yeah, a sort of Tuba-Bassoon hybrid.
Это просто праздник какой-то!
2:01 ... isn't this the "Mantovana"?
2:00 i play this song also when im on the toilet....
TMI…
Haha my husband plays this song on the toilet _aaaallll_ the time! 💩🚽🤣
wasn't the ophicleide used between the serpent and the tuba?
What a strange instrument
✨🧸✨ 🙂👏
Damn còol
may I ask if the jewish shofar is the predecessor of the serpent insturment?
The shofar and related instruments made of animal horns are so old, predating the serpent by so much that we can't really say that the shofar is a direct ancestor to the serpent but humans experimenting with putting holes into animal horns and wood horns to get different notes likely slowy developed into the idea of instruments like the serpent, cornett, zink.... Atleast the idea of it. There is much controvesy over who actually invented the serpent let alone where the idea came from so thats really the best answer.
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Frontier psychiatrist
Is this satans' preferred instrument?
bir türk
Looks like a snake, sounds like a cow
Good info, except that "their" isn't a singular pronoun. Deprogram yourself.
Um… “they” can be a singular pronoun? “Oops a random person dropped THEIR wallet” like that
Just as the fellow above pointed out... oh! Here's another: "the original commentator probably failed their English classes."
Check yourself.
Guess no one got the opening notes of The Shining he played at the beginning of the video? 🤔
Pretty sure it is
If you're curious: that's "dies irae", a very old motif that symbols death. Its used in music throughout history all the time and you can hear it in movies pretty often!