Stamped inside bell: BAUDOUIN
Double s-shaped in typically wide French folding; two carved fruitwood halves, glued together and covered with black leather; brass ferrule and mouthpipe (separate). Ferrule engraved with four lines in groups of two.
Six finger holes in two groups of three; tone holes slightly undercut.
Accessories: large funnel-shaped brass mouthpiece.
Sounding length: 2340 mm (including mouthpipe); internal diameter of mouthpipe at receiver: 10.9 mm; bell diameter: 105 mm.
Baudouin is one of the best known French serpent makers. Of Belgian extraction, he worked in Paris from 1801 until about 1836. This serpent is presumably one of his earlier instruments, made in the traditional manner with six finger holes and no keys. Such so-called "church serpents" were used in France as early as the late sixteenth century to support Gregorian plainsong and were still in use in provincial French churches in the twentieth century.
Lit.: Sabine K. Klaus, "Serpent of Wood and Metal," ITEA Journal for Euphonium and Tuba, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Fall 2005), pp. 82 and 84.
NMM 7331. Serpent in D by Nicolas Pierre Joly, Bar-sur-Aube, France, 1829
Engraved on front between first and second winding (counting from mouthpiece): N. P. Joly. F. 1829.
Double s-shaped in typically wide French folding; two-piece brass body (main body, bell) and separate brass mouthpipe; main body of one, bell of two matching metal sheets. Bell with overlapping butt seam; seam at main body covered with brass strip. Mainz rim. Flat, round key heads with white leather pads (presumably replaced); no tone-hole rims; brass tone-hole borders; keys pivot in rectangular saddles on rectangular footplate with rounded corners; leaf springs.
Six finger holes in two groups of three; two closed keys for B-natural and F-sharp (related to C-pitch).
Accessories: brass mouthpiece.
Sounding length: 2170 mm (including mouthpipe); internal diameter of mouthpipe at receiver: 12.2 mm; bell diameter: 127 mm.
This metal serpent is one of only two known instruments by Nicolas Pierre Joly (1799-1885), the other one being an unusually small serpent of tenor size preserved in a private collection. Joly is recorded as a jeweler in his hometown of Bar-sur-Aube. Serpents of metal rather than wood were a late phenomenon, intended for greater stability and sometimes for military use.
Lit.: Sabine K. Klaus, "Serpent of Wood and Metal," ITEA Journal for Euphonium and Tuba, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Fall 2005), pp. 82 and 84.
Engraved on bell garland: WM. LANDER MAKER, MERE, WILTS.
Double s-shaped in typically narrow English folding; one-piece copper body with flaring bell and separate brass mouthpipe; brass ferrule, garland and keys; body of two matching metal-sheet halves; two overlapping butt seams along side of body. Variation of Saxon rim with iron wire insert. Finger holes with brass tone-hole borders; keys with brass tone-hole rims soldered to body. Round, spoon-shaped key heads with white leather pads (replaced); keys pivot on screw in tube between two brass posts with rounded top; leaf spring.
Six finger holes in two groups of three; three closed keys for C-sharp, B-natural, and F-sharp.
Accessories: cup-shaped brass mouthpiece with very small rim.
Sounding length: 2400 mm (including mouthpipe); internal diameter of mouthpipe at receiver: 12.8 mm; bell diameter: 207 mm.
The instrument's construction, from two separate metal sheets, imitates the way in which wooden serpents were traditionally made out of two pieces glued together. The flaring bell is very unusual for a serpent. This may be the only surviving musical instrument made by Lander (1763-1843), who was a brazier and inventor.
Lit.: Sabine K. Klaus, "Serpent of Wood and Metal," ITEA Journal for Euphonium and Tuba, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Fall 2005), pp. 82 and 84.
Sabine K. Klaus, "William Lander (1763-1843), Mere, Wiltshire. A Forgotten Musical Instrument Maker Rediscovered," The Galpin Society Journal, Vol. 57 (May 2004), pp. 3-18 and 195-203.
Kelly Roncone Zappas, "The Science of Sound: Examining the Role of Materials in Musical Instruments," JOM: A Publication of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Vol. 59, No. 8 (August 2007), p. 16.
National Music Museum
The University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
