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Historical Instrument Section 1 ITEA Journal Summer 2003 Historical Craig Kridel and Clifford Bevan, Editors By Craig Kridel Instrument Section Questions & Answers: Bass horns and Russian bassoons hat are bass horns and bass horns, but, instead, between bass W Russian bassoons (basson horns and ophicleides. Bass horns main- russe), and what’s the difference? tain an open hole system where the Where to begin! While there are Left: fingers cover tone holes. This is to say many contemporary and historical Basson that fingers are lowered to close the six accounts of Russian bassoons and Russe basic tone-holes, and the accompanying bass horns, descriptions vary greatly three or four closed keys are used for not only in period treatises but also Below: accidentals and intonation adjustment. In in contemporary reference books. Serpent A contrast, the ophicleide, while an upright Clearly, little consensus exists. Pavillon serpent in shape, relies exclusively upon Furthermore, as one begins to keys to cover tone holes, hence a “keyed examine the serpent family, for brass” designation. In addition, the which Russian bassoons (basson ophicleide maintains a closed-hole russe) and bass horns are considered system: as fingers are lowered onto keys, members as upright serpents, equally tone holes open. [Few are aware that perplexing questions arise, e.g., serpent/ophicleide doublers play instru- what’s the difference between the ments with reversed fingering patterns.] serpent and bass cornetto, or why is But this merely distinguishes “ophies” an upright serpent called a Russian from bass horns; what about Russian bassoon when the instrument is bassoons? neither a bassoon nor specifically The basson russe is visually so spectac- related to Russia?1 ular that I encourage readers to visit the After one becomes somewhat many websites that portray full-color familiar with the distinctions of the photographs of this instrument, notably, serpent and the oddities of the http://www.usd.edu/smm/Russianbsn.html; Russian bassoon’s name, however, cimbasso, serpent http://www.antikaparis.com/bissonnet/biss the original question reemerges: just what Forveille, and o6.htm; http://www.antikaparis.com/ is the difference between Russians English bass horn delcroix/delcroix1.htm. I have included bassoons and bass horns? Since I own five (Bevan, 2000, p. illustrations depicting the Russian bassoon, different types of serpents, all in playing 83). As one strolls the serpent a pavillon, cimbasso, serpent condition (serpent d’eglise, basson russe, museum collections, Forveille, and English bass horn. I will serpent a pavillon, serpent Forveille, however, various not summarize the many important points cimbasso, and English bass horn), I “lip-energized,” discussed in The Tuba Family and The thought I could address the question. bass, tone-hole Cambridge Companion to Brass Instruments; Mere possession, however, does not conical-bore, readers may consult these references for necessarily lend itself to knowledge! brasswind instru- further details. Bass horns vary greatly Fortunately, I also own a copy of Clifford ments appear that according to sound, weight, presences of Bevan’s The Tuba Family and, as always, do not always fall thumbholes and keys; I make certain much is explained after perusing the early specifically into generalities, quite cautiously, that stem chapters of this text. these categories. This is when the term from the playing characteristics of my For all practical purposes, we can bass horn adopts a “miscellaneous” instruments. assign the term “bass horn” to a generic disposition that describes any other The Russian bassoon, a type of bass designation of “lip-energized,” bass, tone- finger-hole, bassoon-shaped, upright horn, was primarily a military instrument hole conical-bore, brasswind instruments serpent. Interesting, ITEA Journal readers and most often sported a painted dragon’s that fulfilled primarily secular and may note the absence of perhaps the most head for its bell (although other instruments military musical roles. Bevan refers to five familiar upright serpent, the ophicleide with conventional wood or metal bells main types of bass horns: Russian bassoon, (the Greek word for “serpent with keys”). are also designated as a basson russe in French military upright serpent (serpent Here, an initial distinction can be made, contemporary museum exhibitions). The Piffault and serpent a pavillon), Italian albeit not between Russian bassoons and instrument consists of four sections with a 2 Historical Music Section ITEA Journal Summer 2003 butt and wing joint similar to the harmoniemusik, chamber music reed bassoon and either a coiled or ensembles. Unlike all of its bass swan-shaped bocal. Fingers cover the horn relatives, the English bass six standard tone holes and, unlike horn’s six fingerholes are placed on other bass horns, the basson russe the descending tube (or also maintains a right-hand thumb corresponding wing joint section) of hole along with 3 to 4 accompanying its V-configuration. keys. The very gradual expansion of So much more could be said the bore leads to an easier upper about these various types of bass register than many other bass horns. Their sound, playing horns.2 J. J. Regibo is Above: Serpent Forveille characteristics, repertoire, and designated as the inventor Left: Cimbasso duration of musical lives all call for with the instrument celebrat- Below: English Bass Horn further research. Yet, to answer the ing a 1789 birthdate. original question: the term The French military bass horn refers to many upright serpent is most often different types of bass, depicted by the serpent brasswind instruments, one of militaire, first appearing in which is the Russian bassoon. 1806 and later becoming We must not view bass horns known as the serpent Piffault, as primitive, however. Bass named after its inventor. For horns display remarkable this column, however, I forms of ingenuity and feature the serpent a pavillon creativity. This spirit is with its more bass horn captured in one of the most appearance. Described by lovely sentences from The Coeffet in 1839 as having a Tuba Family: “The origins of clear tone and notes of the English bass horn lie in a consistent quality, the serpent period of increasing revolu- a pavillon consists of three tionary activity, when some sections with a coiled metal were straightening the bocal and metal bell, six serpent and others were fingerholes with typically no fighting for the Rights of Man” (Bevan, 2000, 86). thumbhole, and three keys. The middle of this journal, and Each bass horn, with its varying portion, a U-shaped wooden stock of the instrument is described further in The proportions of brass-to-wood and different parallel tubing, is less substantial in Tuba Family. This bass horn consists of fingering patterns and placement, weight and width than the basson russe. four sections with a butt and wing joint represent revolutionary acoustical The third category of bass horns, the similar to the reed bassoon, either a experimentation. Further, the issue is not serpent Forveille, consists of three coiled or swan-shaped bocal, and six whether the early cimbasso or basson sections, a swan-shaped bocal, a “zagged fingerholes, no thumbhole, and 3-4 keys. russe could display the agility of today’s The stock is much more substantial than middle” section of metal, and a J-shaped valved, brass instruments. Much of the the serpent a pavillon (providing for a wooden bell-stock. Appearing in 1823 in bass horn’s military role was to blend into Paris, the instrument also took its name very substantial lower register) and, in a bass sound that combined bassoons and from its inventor and seems to have been contrast to the basson russe, the cimbasso trombones and, for its orchestra role, to played more within a chamber music than includes a widely-flared, metal bell. strengthen the sound of the reed military setting. Hermenge’s 1835 serpent Bevan uses the term “early cimbasso” to bassoons. Too often today we discredit Forveille treatise includes an impressive distinguish this upright serpent from the bass horns for their lack of dexterity array of duets and caprices. With six “valved cimbasso,” the late 19th century when, in fact, acoustical blending may fingerholes, no thumbhole, and 3-4 keys, valved, contrabass trombone. The English have been their most important feature. I the serpent Forveille may represent the bass horn, the final category of Bevan’s was reminded of this recently while best balance between a clear, upper third taxonomy, was invented in the 1790s by a attending a performance of La Traviata. octave and a full, forceful bass register. French ex-patriot, Frichot, who at the The cimbasso part, played by a bass The fourth type of bass horn, the time was living in England. This upright trombone, would have been performed on cimbasso, originates in Italy circa 1815 serpent with its V-shape, flaring bell and this wood-bassoon type of bass horn. One and was seen at La Scala by 1816. Much swan-shaped bocal, six fingerholes, no could only wonder how the sound would as been written about the cimbasso. In thumbhole, and 3-4 keys, was made have been transformed during those fact, Bevan’s “The Great Cimbasso entirely of metal and appeared in military passages throughout the opera when the Mystery” appeared in the pages bands as well as within orchestral and top three trombones were tacit and the ITEA Journal Summer 2003 Historical Music Section 3 cimbasso was playing in unison or provid- places me at odds with many others, even bass horn with a dragon’s head bell. ing the lower octave for the bassoons. including Berlioz. Yet, as we celebrate the Now, that was easy, wasn’t it! Next The bass horn fulfilled an important master’s 200th birthday I should note his question? acoustical and aesthetic role that has exasperation of having to inform an Notes subsequently been forgotten.
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