Serpent - Sonata n°1 Op.20 Michel Corrette ( 1707-1795 )

Sonate n°1 - Les Délices de la Solitude
Michel Corrette ( 1707-1795 )
00:00 Fuga
02:18 II. Aria
05:09 III. Allegro

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Serpent : Patrick WIBART
Théorbe : Romain Falik
Viole de gambe : Martin Bauer
Clavecin : Marie Van Rihjn
vidéo : Pauline Penicaud
son : Charles Alexandre Englebert

Instrument Serpent made by Stephan Berger ( Switzerland )

Musée de l'Hôtel Dieu - Château Thierry

The "Serpent" is a musical instrument that was invented during the second half of the 16th century in France. In french "Serpent" means "Snake".
Very popular in France it was played in vocal music where it serves to strengthen the bass, but also in instrumental music where it was considered as the real bass of the Cornet. Marin Mersenne writes in 1636 that Cornets without the Serpent are like a "body without soul". Later the Serpent was employed in the orchestra and chamber music while maintaining a religious function as was the case in Versailles. It will be from the second half of the 18th century that it will be played throughout Europe as witnessed by the scores of Haydn or Beethoven. It is from 19em century that it is gradually replaced by the ophicleide then by the tuba. It is interesting to note that it is maintained long enough as evidenced by the parts of Serpent in Rienzi by Richard Wagner or in la symphonie fantastique from Berlioz.
In this video, it is an example of practice as a concert instrument as it possibly was during the 18th century.
Patrick Wibart

#serpent #earlymusic #baroquemusic