Originally posted by antongould
View Post
Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate
Collapse
X
-
Snakes were the topic for today's 'playlister' sequence. I'd just like to correct a bit of mis-information about the serpent, a wooden instrument often leather-covered, made in a twisty shape, hence the name. It was blown like a brass instrument, i.e. with a mouthpiece, but had finger holes, and is sometimes thought of as a bass cornetto. It was a staple of the English gallery choir and used to reinforce the bass-line. It's exact proportions were variable, but it NEVER twined around the body of the player as stated by Georgia Mann today. (The twists were merely to shorten the height of the instrument so that a long tube could be played in a sitting position.)
There are several examples in museums ad even the occasional church in Hardy country. https://blog.laymusic.org/groups/west-gallery-quire/
scroll down, no picture, but....
......from the Museum of Somerset rural life: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Locati...t_England.html
Photo taken by Mrs A.
The only instrument I know which actually encircles the player's body is the much more recent Sousaphone.Last edited by ardcarp; 22-10-21, 14:15.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by ardcarp View PostSnakes were the topic for today's 'playlister' sequence. I'd just like to correct a bit of mis-information about the serpent, a wooden instrument often leather-covered, made in a twisty shape, hence the name. It was blown like a brass instrument, i.e. with a mouthpiece, but had finger holes, and is sometimes thought of as a bass cornetto. It was a staple of the English gallery choir and used to reinforce the bass-line. It's exact proportions were variable, but it NEVER twined around the body of the player as stated by Georgia Mann today. (The twists were merely to shorten the height of the instrument so that a long tube could be played in a sitting position.)
There are several examples in museums ad even the occasional church in Hardy country. https://blog.laymusic.org/groups/west-gallery-quire/
scroll down, no picture, but....
......from the Museum of Somerset rural life: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Locati...t_England.html
Photo taken by Mrs A.
The only instrument I know which actually encircles the player's body is the much more recent Sousaphone.
Comment
-
-
It must have been especially difficult finding branches of acceptable twistiness for making these instruments!
The wood body (often walnut) is sometimes made from several fairly short pieces joined together and covered with leather; other times, glued up from two complete halves of hollowed out blocks of wood.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by ardcarp View PostIt's exact proportions were variable, but it NEVER twined around the body of the player as stated by Georgia Mann today...
The only instrument I know which actually encircles the player's body is the much more recent Sousaphone.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by ardcarp View PostGoogling for serpents throws up bizarre sites! But I found this.....
The wood body (often walnut) is sometimes made from several fairly short pieces joined together and covered with leather; other times, glued up from two complete halves of hollowed out blocks of wood.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View PostCorrect on both counts. I do wish they'd replace guesswork and assumptions with research. It's a bit like the fairly common belief that alphorns are required for the Strauss work of a similar name.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by ardcarp View PostGoogling for serpents throws up bizarre sites! But I found this.....
The wood body (often walnut) is sometimes made from several fairly short pieces joined together and covered with leather; other times, glued up from two complete halves of hollowed out blocks of wood.
I knew one of the London Serpent Trio's members, and knew of Christopher Monk through a friend's interest in the cornett. While a student in Kingston I was able to attend a couple of the entertaining recitals they put on.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by underthecountertenor View PostOr that Strauss’s “Morgen!” is a song all about morning. Michael Berkeley agreed with a recent PP guest that that’s what it means, and Tom McKinney fell into the same trap a few days later."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by underthecountertenor View PostOr that Strauss’s “Morgen!” is a song all about morning. Michael Berkeley agreed with a recent PP guest that that’s what it means, and Tom McKinney fell into the same trap a few days later.
Comment
-
-
Originally posted by ardcarp View PostWonderful pic!
On Strauss's Morgen, I wanted to find something about the poet and fed the first line into google. It came up with the weather forecast for BristolIt isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
Comment
-
Comment