Instruments: The Serpent Forveille

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Serpent Forveille: site under construction

 

The serpent Forveille consists of three sections, a swan-shaped bocal, a "zagged middle" section of metal, and a J-shaped wooden bell-stock. Appearing in 1823 in Paris, the instrument also took its name from its inventor and seems to have been played more within a chamber music than military setting.

Hermenge's 1835 serpent Forveille treatise includes an impressive array of duets and caprices. With six fingerholes, no thumbhole, and 3-4 keys, the serpent Forveille may represent the best balance between a clear, upper third octave and a full, forceful bass register.

 
 

maker's signature:
Darche
One important designation among the upright serpents is the configuration of finger holes for the lengthening of the air column. Using Mendelssohn's 1824 line drawing of the English bass horn (sent in a letter to his sister, Fanny), finger holes have been placed in order on the air column as a way to display their positioning for the serpent Forveille.

 


For a complete description of the different types of bass horns, see

Bass horns and Russian bassoons by Craig Kridel

exploring the role of
early 19th century brass
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