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MikeS wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2026 8:51 am

Mary Ann wrote: Thu Mar 16, 2023 8:55 am Watching that video again has made me, again, want to at least get my hands on a serpent just to see how wildly weird it is to play.

If you notice the instances where the fingering for two notes a half step apart is the same, that should give you a clue.

Someone I know bought an old French made one (sold by someone in South America) and I fixed it up and added an additional half step tone hole at the top - along with a key for it
They spent a lot of time learning how to play it, got a bit carried away with it, and used it on too many things with their orchestra. I believe when they decided to use it on the Meistersinger prelude, some of the musicians got together and got the orchestra to make a rule banning it.

I like the Cleveland Recording with Boulez. With modern instruments but lightly played.

cjk wrote: Wed Mar 15, 2023 12:16 pm I recall reading about maybe Gene Pokorny (?) playing this part down an octave or two on a F tuba perhaps to amplify the ominousness.
Is there a recording (commercial/youtube/whatever) of anyone doing that?

The Chicago/Barenboim recording from 1994 does. It adds a delicious level of menace.