According to what I have read, Berlioz scored it for a serpent, even though he didn't care much for the instrument. However, ophicleides are essentially a "modernized easy to play serpent", with keys and stuff to make it easier to play in tune (I'd rather not think about an instrument that's harder to play in tune than a serpent...).
IIRC, ophicleides existed at the time Berlioz wrote the piece, so using them in place of a serpent is plausible. They are at least a good bit closer to the sound of a serpent than a modern tuba, since they have essentially the same conical bore. However, the fact that they are made of brass rather than wood would change the tone somewhat. -----Original Message----- From: Anthony Hind [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 9:19 AM To: Stephen Kenyon; [email protected] Net Subject: [LUTE] Re: [LUTE] Rép : [LUTE] Re: Serpent trio Le 27 juin 07 à 17:51, Stephen Kenyon a écrit : > Anthony Hind wrote: > >> Dear Serpentistsss >> I think I heard my first serpent knowingly (while also seeing >> it) very recently in an orchestrated version of Purcell's Dido >> Aeneas, The Serpent was played by expert serpentist Philip Humphries, > > > Phil Humphries also played the Ophicleïde in my orchestra in the > Midsummer Night's Dream overture, the authentic thing to have > instead of a tuba. Authentically hard to intonate as well :-/ > 4th and 5th concert pictures here. Yes, Norrington had an Ophicleïde for Berlioz' Dies irae, whereas Gardiner used the serpent. Which is more authentic in this role, I wonder? Anthony > > http://www.jacaranda-music.com/Midsummer%20Concert.html > > Sorry, not many lutes involved. Or serpents. > > S > > To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
