Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 182
Scan 182
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
17 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 162. See the scan on archive.org.
1334.
2Serpent. Of copper, with six finger-holes, bushed with brass, and four flat brass keys on saddles. The keys giving B and F♯ are in front; the keys giving D♯ and C♯ are at the back. This instrument has apparently been made for a left-handed player. The crook is of brass, as is also the mouthpiece. Greatest length across instrument 27 inches. Greatest width 17 inches. Late 18th century.
4Lent by the Edinburgh University (Chair of Music).
6335.
7Serpent. Of wood, covered with leather. There are six finger-holes, bushed with ivory, and four flat brass keys on saddles. The keys giving B and F♯ are in front; those giving D♯ and C♯ are at the back. The crook is of brass, and the mouthpiece of ivory. The bell is turned slightly outwards. Greatest length across instrument 29½ inches. Greatest width 18 inches.
9The turning of the bell outwards, in order to give greater freedom for the emission of sound, is said to have been an improvement made at the suggestion of King George III. The serpents made in the 19th century are made almost always after this model.
11Lent by Rev. F. W. Galpin, M.A., F.L.S.
13336.
14Serpent. Of wood, covered with leather. There are four finger-holes, bushed with ivory, and seven flat brass keys on saddles. The keys give B, F♯, F♭ (open key), D♯, C♯, C♭ (open key), and B♭ (open key). This last key is intended to facilitate the production of B♭ and B♭♭ in the lowest register. The keys for B, F♯, F, and C are in front, the remainder at the back. Greatest length across the instrument 29 inches. Greatest width 17½ inches. The B open key at the bottom of the instrument is found also in the ophicleide, and is intended to facilitate the production of B and B♭♭, usually obtained by means of the C♯ and C keys and relaxing the lips. This improvement, however, does not seem to have been generally adopted.
16Lent by Messrs. R. Ward and Sons.
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