Serpent
by Andy Kershaw

The Serpent is said to have been invented in France c1590, its primary role was to accompany and support the lower voices for plainsong. 

As time passed the Serpent became the bass voice of more ensembles, being widely used across Europe within military bands and orchestras and ‘Village’ and ‘West Gallery’ bands in the U.K. 

Thomas Hardy refers to the Serpent in Under the Greenwood Tree ‘but a serpent was a good old note: a deep rich note was the serpent.’ Some references to this wonderful instrument have been less kind!

Composers such as Berlioz, Mendelssohn and Wagner scored for the Serpent until eventually in the late 19th Century it was superseded by the ophicleide and then the Tuba. 

Although I do own and regularly play original 19th Century serpents, the instruments I am using in ‘Blackadder Baroque Brass’ are faithful reproductions of an instrument by ‘Baudouin’ made by Christopher Monk instruments. 

Playing the Serpent in ‘Blackadder Baroque Brass’ is a unique experience, as this scoring of instruments was not historically used; However, in combination with the Bass Sackbut it’s a joy to provide the bass line for this fabulous ensemble.