What is Serpent (musical instrument)?
[[File:Serpentó.jpg|thumb|250px|The serpent]] The '''serpent''' is an ancient, low-sounding [[wind instrument]] in an 'S' shape. It looks a bit like a snake or serpent. It is made of wood, but had a mouthpiece similar to a [[trumpet]] and is classified as a [[brass instrument]]. The serpent has a range from C below the [[bass clef]] to around F above middle C.<ref>H. Heyde 2007. Zoomorphic and theatrical musical instruments in the late Italian Renaissance and Baroque eras. In: ''Marvels of sound and beauty: Italian baroque musical instruments''. Florence.</ref> It was perhaps invented by Frenchman, Edme Guillaume, in the late 1500s. It made a comeback in the late 1800s and can be heard in [[Berlioz]]' ''[[Symphonie Fantastique]]''. The nearest musical instrument to the serpent is the [[ophicleide]], which replaced it in the 19th century. Its place was taken later on by valved bass brass instruments such as the [[euphonium]] and [[tuba]]. == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Brass instruments]] [[Category:Early musical instruments]] {{music-stub}}