Serpent

The serpent. Readers with ophidiophobia fear not - there will be nothing to do with any actual leg-less creatures in this post. This post is all about the musical instrument known as the serpent. This quirky instrument was developed during the Renaissance and in recent decades has been enjoying its own Renaissance. Traditionally, serpents are made of wood but still classified as a brass instrument due to the use of the brass-style mouthpiece. Their ancestors include cornetti and their purpose was to strengthen bass voices in liturgical music such as chant.

A serpent with chorus 

Doug Yeo, retired bass trombonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, has become one of the world's foremost authorities and performers on serpent. Modern serpents are often made of materials other than wood. I have even seen them constructed from plastic plumbing pipe (PVC).


Here is Doug Yeo with three serpents


Closer view of a serpent with keys


Closer view of a serpent without keys

Doug Yeo with a contrabass serpent. 
Doug Yeo with a contrabass serpent and a non-historical soprano serpent.

Here is a good video where you can see Doug's hands in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWez9hhitXQ

Some modern incarnations have actually foregone the serpent look and only seek to recreate their sound. These include the Squarpent and the Box-O-Cleide. Pictured is one such instrument.



For more photos and information check out The Serpent Website http://www.serpentwebsite.com/index.htm This is an amazing resource on historic bass instruments.


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