Contrabass Digest
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1998-10-27

 
list                           Tue, 27 Oct 1998           Volume 1 : Number 11

In this issue:
 

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Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 23:14:12 -0400
From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@vgernet.net>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Serpent FS

You may want to call me up before buying any instruments from Mr.
Smiga.  I have bought two.

Robert Howe

Grant Green wrote:
> I've heard once again from Mr. Smiga, who now apparently has an authentic
> antique serpent for sale.  I'll post the images.... eventually.  If anyone
> is interested before that, please feel free to contact him directly, or to
> ask me for his email address.
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Grant

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Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 11:46:15 EST
From: LeliaLoban@aol.com
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: serpent FS

Grant Green wrote,
>>I've heard once again from Mr. Smiga, who now apparently has an authentic
antique serpent for sale....>>

Although I'm not in the market for a serpent at the moment, in case one ever
slithers into my life, I wonder whether anybody publishes a fingering chart or
other practical help about care and feeding of such beasts.  I've heard them
on "original instruments" recordings (I believe someone in Pifaro plays
serpent), but have only seen them in museums, including the Smithsonian
collection.  Fascinating concept, but I've heard they're difficult to play and
impossible to play in tune.

Lelia

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 10:39:25 -0800
From: Grant Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: serpent FS

>Although I'm not in the market for a serpent at the moment, in case one ever
>slithers into my life, I wonder whether anybody publishes a fingering chart or
>other practical help about care and feeding of such beasts.  I've heard them
>on "original instruments" recordings (I believe someone in Pifaro plays
>serpent), but have only seen them in museums, including the Smithsonian
>collection.  Fascinating concept, but I've heard they're difficult to play and
>impossible to play in tune.
>
>Lelia

Try Doug Yeo's site (www.yeodoug.com), which includes a page of "Tempted by
the Serpent", with a number of pictures of serpents, including a contrabass
serpent (which stands on the floor) and a piccolo serpent.  I have a sound
file of his demonstration of George (the contrabass serpent) that I'm
presently trying to wrestle into RealAudio format, at which point you'll be
able to hear it over the web.

The serpent *is* reputedly difficult to play.  It has six fingerholes,
which are spaced mainly according to where you can reach, rather than what
makes sense acoustically.  There is a *lot* of lip adjustment required.  In
fact, a favorite demonstration of cornets and serpents is to play a
descending scale while fingering an ascending scale (and vice versa).  The
fingering helps only approximately.  Playing in tune is almost completely a
function of the player's ear, not the instrument - like trombone.  Probably
not a coincidence that Doug Yeo plays bass trombone with the Boston
Symphony Orchestra....

Enjoy!

Grant
 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green            gdgreen@contrabass.com
                    http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1998 21:51:50 +0100
From: Drake MABRY <dcmabry@club-internet.fr>
To: list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: serpent ideas

> Lelia,

    Michel Godard is the serpent master in France. Not only does he play beautifully (and in tune)
but he also plays both classical and jazz serpent. I've written several works for him as a tubaist
(Concerto for tuba and band, Duo for tuba and harpsichord etc.) and last year wrote "Four Tanka" for
soprano and serpent. He premiered the work last April and will record it next Spring I think. In
fact, while writing the piece for him I tried one of his serpents (a Monk copy from 1988) and liked
it so much that I bought it. So, as an encore for the premiere of my piece we played an
improvisation for two serpents and soprano - stereo serpents!
    Michel's records often feature him as both tubaist and serpentist. Try to find "Repons" Studio
SM D2490 in which he performs serpent and tuba with a gregorian choir of monks, "Aborigene" on Hopi
200002 with pieces from the Renaissance to 20th Century (my duo for tuba and harpsichord is on this
one), and "Le Chant du Serpent" on La Lichére LLL37 which includes a version of Black Snake Blues on
three serpents. If you can't find these CD's in the US try the fnac.fr internet site - it's
reliable.
    As far as fingering charts go, Michel has sent me three different 18th century fingering charts,
one of which includes chromatic fingerings from low C to the C above middle C.
    I also highly recommend Douglas Yeo's site - its excellent!

    all the best,

        Drake
> Although I'm not in the market for a serpent at the moment, in case one ever
> slithers into my life, I wonder whether anybody publishes a fingering chart or
> other practical help about care and feeding of such beasts.  I've heard them
> on "original instruments" recordings (I believe someone in Pifaro plays
> serpent), but have only seen them in museums, including the Smithsonian
> collection.  Fascinating concept, but I've heard they're difficult to play and
> impossible to play in tune.
>
> Lelia

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End of list V1 #11
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