Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Serpent



"A drain pipe suffering from intestinal disorder." -Willi Apel


"The instrument gave a fresh zest to Gregorian Plainsong." -Canon Edme Guillaume


Opinions vary about the serpent. Not all of them are complimentary. It's an unlikely looking instrument with a mouthpiece like a brass instrument and side holes like a woodwind. It gets its name from its snakelike shape, not from its ability to play scales.


Here's a video of a Serpent.




See also The Serpent Website including its photo gallery and the quotes and anecdotes page.

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