Introducing the Ophicleide

[@drzoidberg71]

A lot of ophicleide videos on youtube are by people who don't know how to play it. It's so nice to hear someone knowing what they are doing playing one of these.

[@jomarluke]

Hey, I resemble that remark! 🤣

[@martineyles]

Sound so much more refined than the serpent. I could see this fitting into a modern orchestra for solos with a slightly different timbre, as Euphonium, Wagner Tuba, Saxophone etc. get their ocasional outings.

[@MaoRatto]

This is what I call the perfect instrument though. As it would be so useful for solos or add more somberness to music.

[@principals16842]

This is a bit tangential, but the name "Ophicleide" has been used on pipe organs to denote a powerful reed stop (brass-like sound) since the installation of the Birmingham Town Hall organ by William Hill in 1835. The loudest organ stop in the world at 130 dB is the "Grand Ophicleide" found in the Boardwalk Hall Organ in Atlantic City, NJ. That stop borrows the name only; it has extraordinary éclat and in no way mimics the timbre of this lovely, mellow instrument.

[@littlemisskimmycat78]

A lot of pipe organs around the world were made during the era when the ophicleide was around.

[@ithebinman]

Now I'd love to see a video on the Tenor Cornett! OAE make this video happen please!

[@oae]

HI @ithebinman - oh yes, the lyzard! We'll see if we can. Have you seen our 'regular' Cornett video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aniugGuDlr2rqJo

[@mikesoule1352]

I've never heard one before, or even heard OF an ophiclide before. Thanks for the education! 🎶🥰🎵🎶

[@andycordy5190]

Thank you. What a beauty! I just saw the name occasionally in proms programme booklets (Berlioz was always spectacular) but, like many, I was happy to know it was there and not be too curious about which it was in the masterful scoring.

[@Barnagh1]

A lovely soft tone.

[@dylanlabon9667]

The tone of this instrument is very fascinating. It has a very pulled back sound that is still warm. As a cellist, the tone is reminiscent of the C and G strings when played in higher positions.

[@kyleethekelt]

I'm glad you mentioned the euphonium because I thought both the serpent and the ophicleide reminded me of that sound. However, I think this is warmer and softer.

[@taylormanning2709]

Please ask Mr Kershaw to do more videos on the ophicleide. This was wonderful

[@Darrylizer1]

It's very like a tuba and a bassoon with a dash of rounded tenor sax thrown in for good measure.

[@anidiot4702]

interesting how similar in form it is to a bassoon, even in the standing position. Look at the bell, the mouth piece area, the key position, everything lines up with a bassoon from a distance.

[@DavidMason-b6u]

I love when y'all upload, hell yeah

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Seems like this would be good even in modern times for small groups of mostly string and woodwind instruments where it might be hard to regulate a modern brass instrument to a matching volume.

[@slmanbadr6832]

what a handsome player

[@alanartz]

It’s like a Tuba-bassoon hybrid

[@ericalbany]

For some reason the French thought it was very humorous to pose photographs of men in clerical cassocks playing these - often with a glass of wine nearby. Gallic humor can be impenetrable.

[@andreivulpescu503]

Maybe because they kinda sound like farts in their low register?

[@peteradaniel]

The weaker notes in the cross fingering make it sound incredibly bassoon like. What a wonderful instrument

[@halltrain1162]

Wonderful, beautiful introduction to this instrument. Took me some time to get it to sound nice. Now I can’t put it down.

[@littlemisskimmycat78]

It’s played in almost the same way as a bassoon and has a mellow sound similar to the french horn

[@forveillelier]

Beatiful. Beautiful.

[@nuibit8868]

The low notes probably have the richest tone. Not too piercing, not too fluffy. Reminds me of whipped smooth cream.

[@bigsarge2085]

Awesome!

[@Jinkaza1882]

The video I have waited for.

[@jamesakins8229]

The instrument was invented in 1817 by French maker, Jean Hilaire Asté. Berlioz used it as an early example, in his Symphonie Fantastique, composed in 1830.

[@johnhazlett3711]

This instrument should be brought back. It sounds very nice.

[@jomarluke]

I couldn't find that excerpt in Ezio. Is it another version written with ophicleide in it, or is it something you just enjoy playing? I also love ophicleide and serpent :) keep doing more of these! Basson russe next?

[@forveillelier]

Yeah! I hope so!

[@michaelbishop.]

Right thumb held aloft rather than resting alongside it’s key, must be a performance reason , but visually looks like an RSI waiting to happen🙂👍

[@ulflundberg5029]

The Ophicleide was also Adolph Sax´starting point, when he designed the Saxophone.

[@ed_ward_1430]

It's certainly true that a baritone sax is very similar to an ophicleide with a reed replacing the brass mouthpiece.

[@Lowslays]

wasn't it invented earlier than 1850? i could be wrong but it was played in Berlioz symphony fantastique which was 1830

[@maestroclassico5801]

So its like a Brass Bassoon?

[@billneurohr8509]

Nice sound

[@joefes7409]

Keyed trumpets are very underrated

[@PlanetImo]

Ahhh lovely. And really interesting, too Thank you :)

[@alexanderreinhardt3780]

I'm glad to know that I've actually been pronouncing it correctly this whole time lol

[@mixedstaples8030]

thre

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

frou

[@thanosleontaris8248]

@@rasmusn.e.m1064 fith

[@humanfingers]

сикс

[@Vytirix_RBX]

@thanosleontaris8248 sikth

[@grailgnosticism2342]

You should contact Native Instruments Inc with a view to creating a professional sample library of this remarkable instrument.

[@ruler255]

Most corporate sounding comment ever...

[@grailgnosticism2342]

@@ruler255 Well, there re plenty other devs, but NI might pay the most !

[@Budolf]

What if bassoon and trombone had a baby

[@AllenJones-w3p]

The opicleide was the ancestor of the modern-day tuba.

[@brettzolstick989]

Its like a brass bassoon alternative

[@timothytikker1147]

How is it that the ophicleide was invented c. 1850, when Berlioz called for it on his Symphonie Fantastique in 1830?

[@Timrath]

A very astute question! From Wikipedia: "The ophicleide was invented in 1817 and patented in 1821 by French instrument maker Jean Hilaire Asté ."

[@forveillelier]

Because he says that that Ophicleide was made in 1850, not the Ophicleide itself.

[@oae]

Apologies for this minor error: The patent was given in 1821 and reached its height of use later in 1850’s.

[@nostalgiakarlk.f.7386]

These things could also be played with a double reed like a bassoon.

[@chrisperyagh]

If such a large double reed was available. Although a single reed mouthpiece coupled with one is what gave birth to the saxophone - the early patents even show such a thing.

[@pakhoy8648]

The eyebrows!!!

[@gfghjfgfghfj]

So, voiced like a smaller chyeuba?

[@apearson79]

Berlioz! 🤘

[@pukalo]

Typo in title

[@oae]

thanks @pukalo!

[@andrewexists4517]

S Tier instrument

[@calmeilles]

You don't answer… or really ask _why_ the ophicleide was superseded.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Pronunciation of the name probably wrong, as it is supposed to be Greek.

[@chrisperyagh]

Same with a lot of Greek derived words that have found themselves been incorporated into English and no-one ever complains. Until now.