Serpent, nominal pitch: 8-ft C

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Instrument

Serpent/Serpents/Wind/Musical Instrument ; Serpent

Instrument Family

Wind

Date Made

Probably 1768

Description

Overall size: 835. Bore: distal end of crook 20.8; bell 94. Dia of mouthpiece receiver: m.r.t. 13.8 not tapered, to depth 15.0. Technical description: Wood, black leather covered. 6 finger holes. Bell garland silver; crook and ferrule at crook receiver silver plated brass. Inscribed on bell garland and side of crook with cockerel motif, associated with Shaw Hellier family. Bell garland loose. Leather covering beginning to crack and de laminate around second bend. Some worm holes near bell (instrument has been fumigated). Lent with, probably formerly used with and possibly supplied by maker with mouthpiece (3304). Specific literature references: Day 1891, item 329; Blaikley 1900, item C227; Galpin 1909 p.201; Simon 1985, item 227 Campbell 1999; Frew and Myers 2003. Illustration references: Day 1891, Plate VII (A); Borland 1906, Fig. 106 (1); Simon 1985 p.245; Brass Bulletin (1/1994) No. 85 p.11; Dearling 1996, p.192; From Composition to Performance: Musicians at Work (Open University, 1998) Text for Course AA302; Campbell 1999, p.126; Galpin Society Journal, 2003, LVI p.188; Campbell et al. 2004, dust jacket. Specific usage history: Originally purchased, and used for music making at the Wombourne Wodehouse, Staffordshire, by Sir Samuel Hellier (1737 1784).

Other Information

Specific usage history: Originally purchased, and used for music-making at the Wombourne Wodehouse, Staffordshire, by Sir Samuel Hellier (1737-1784).

Notes

R. Parks 27.3.93.

Measurements

835.

Provenance

Formerly on loan to the Collection. ; Accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by HM Government in 2025 from the estate of John William Phillips and allocated to The Musical Instrument Collection, University of Edinburgh

Collection

MIMEd ; Shaw-Hellier Collection

Accession Number

3303

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