The Serpent Forum

J.c. Sherman · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Cleveland, USA

Hey there,

If any of you has ever tried a serpent forveille, I'm interested in your feedback regarding its playing characteristics vs. regular church serpent. Likewise, Bass Horns and other serpent derivations (save ophicleide - I've got a great one!).

Doug Yeo was kind enough to offer me some wonderful ideas and impressions of the upright instruments, but all feedback is wonderful.

Basically, I'm a brass instrument maker, and it's MUCH easier for me to entertain making an instrument from brass or copper, rather than Wood or any other material. Furthermore, the fewer beds in the pipe, the better. I'm intrigued with making a French Military instrument rather than a standard church serpent, but there’s no reason not to make a metal Forveille or similar instrument in my estimation.

Thanks for any and all feedback!

J.c. Sherman

Paul Horner · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 11 Location: NC

There is a beautiful, playable Serpent Forveille in the Eddy Music instrument collection at Duke University. My impression is that it played easier with a more even tone. It looked like it would be an involved project to replicate it as the brass section has several tight turns. A nice size piece of clear grain wood would be needed to make the bell. This one did not have a leather covering. They also have an unrestored church serpent, no keys, ca. 1760 and a resin serpent of more modern time. If you decide to make an "upright serpent" I will watch with interest!

paulschmidt · Joined: 04 Mar 2007 Posts: 35

I have played one example of a Forveille, and it was quite similar to my Monk church serpent. I would like to have one, but they are quite expensive.
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