Serpent & Ophicleide - Symphonie Fantastique V. (extract Dies Irae)

[@judithwhitehouse2149]

I took part in one of the first attempts to reconstruct this 'original' sound as a student in the 1970s - it was pretty rough, but great fun - I was badly bitten by a serpent, then mauled by an ophicleide, but they were still completely feral then - amazed and delighted at how domesticated they have become all those years later - our sacrifice was worth it!

[@mondotrombo7167]

lmao

[@brucekuehn4031]

Thank you for your bravery!

[@xbcrcx]

Every so often something pops up on KZbin which is truly extraordinary and this is definitely one of them. As a tuba player, I was initially taken in by the appearance of the serpent and the ophiicleide, but then was stunned by how great they sounded. This movement of Symphonie Fantastique is one of my favorites because of the Berloz's incredible orchestration and I was gobsmacked how fabulous it sounded on period instruments. I've heard many renditions of this piece going back to the time I was a teenager (I'll be 73 next week) and this is the first one that actually brought me to tears.

[@nyancs7098]

Happy birthday! And I agree

[@ancientbrass]

Bravi! The whole orchestra sounds smashing - the old French trombones, natural trumpets, and historical winds all have such a wonderful, lively character!

[@Saxshoe]

And the sackbuts as well!

[@TheBandMan]

something looks different about the contra bass strings too, maybe gut strings?

[@rofo2107]

like a museum on wheels LOL

[@forveillelier]

And the old french horn

[@harimanchi]

@@forveillelier the French horns were probably the most interesting, with the one with 3 piston valves and the other one with two rotary valves

[@abundance6692]

Great to hear a performance where these original and outrageous instruments (serpent and ophicleide) that Berlioz originally called for are used. What a sound! Also great to hear a true sul ponticello in the strings and a great skeleton rattling col legno. Hearing the piece like this shows what a truly outrageous work this is that Berlioz loosed upon the world in 1829!

[@ThomasDawkins88]

People seem to forget that it was only five years after Beethoven 9 and the sonic world is COMPLETELY different.

[@fredrickroll06]

Fascinating to imagine that this is how it really sounded in 1830 - of course, we will never know, but it's a very brave attempt. Audiences then must have recognized that in this almost completely unprecedented work, Berlioz translated into music what all of France went through during the Revolution and thenceforth.

[@whatafreakinusername]

To be sure, Berlioz often called for huge forces in his music, so the orchestra in 1830 probably would've been twice as big. Similar instruments, though.

[@scottziegler4238]

They're playing modern french bassoons for some reason.

[@Potter5416]

Further back than that

[@gregmonks]

Can you imagine being in the audience when this was first performed? On a par with the premier of le sacre du printemps, possibly.

[@emorigami7108]

When the old fashioned contrabass trombone Bell is about as large as a modern day trumpet bell.

[@svenlarsson]

Bass trombone.

[@gregmonks]

@@svenlarsson Contrabass. I have one from this period. It's called an "F contrabass". The bell on mine is around 9".

[@svenlarsson1584]

@@gregmonks Interesting! It is like the basstrombone in Bb that is more like a modern tenor. Tenor-basstrombone. I would like to call your horn a bass-contrabasstrombone?

[@gregmonks9708]

@@svenlarsson1584 The idea of bass has changed over the years. The ophicleide was considered a bass instrument when it was new on the scene, but it really plays in the euphonium's range. My F contrabass trombone plays best in the same range as the Bb tenor trombone because of its narrow bore. I know several modern players who would kill to get their hands on 19th century F contrabass trombones because of their rarity. Not that they're especially rare but that they're all taken. Lots of G's around, but F's are as rare as hen's teeth.

[@magdalenaportmann2431]

Fantastic piece, and performance! Then I had a jolt - at 6 minutes in - the violinist who is the spitting image of my mother (when she was that age) - a violinist, too. Bless her. She died in 2014.

[@finnmcool2]

After seeing the wind instruments I half expected the percussion section to be a hollow log and the skulls of their enemies.

[@stevenclark5965]

Wow. Totally brings out the creepiness of this passage in a chilling way.

[@michaelsodt9402]

Steven Clark k

[@ryannamecat]

Is it just me or did this video get muted recently? Been reloading the video with and without headphones... did they get a copyright strike or sumn?

[@Booa333]

@@ryannamecat Yes, unfortunately there is a abusive copyright procedure (for a completely different recording) but this should be resolved in a month 🤞 !

[@MrSmith-zj2lo]

@@Booa333 Oh no! I use this video every year, since it's such great quality and shows off both instruments! Is there another way I can get to it?

[@yehbuddy4251]

The dies irae sounds terrifying on period instruments…imagine going to see a concert and you see a serpent

[@NicholasComfort-w1e]

The music is fantastic, as the name would imply, but what I really enjoy is seeing so many period appropriate instruments! "Band Nerd" as I may be, but I love it. Thank you!

[@donalddodson7365]

BRAVO! TRULY FANTASTIC ... no pun intended. What marvelous intonation, especially considering the period instruments, exciting performance capturing the emotions of the piece. So glad I stumbled across this on You Tube. I had hear modern orchestras performing this piece, but I do not recall performance with such excitement and passion. Well done!

[@gregmonks]

Absolutely love this conductor! I'd play my arse off for him.

[@aegirosaurusichthyosaur541]

Extraordinary Piece! I like this and good job!

[@cehussey]

This piece sounds more radical on period instruments.

[@mikhailadamov6453]

I actually prefer this version, the serpent horn and ophicleide add a very nice colour to the melody.

[@wordsmithpiko1784]

Is this video muted for anybody else?

[@Dwarvenelf]

yeah, weird

[@olialto7]

Yes......?!? What's going on?

[@user-pw3tr1xg2x]

Incredible to hear this work with the instruments of the time and played so skilfully. Must look up if the whole of this performance has been uploaded.

[@aleksandarbrzic8351]

What a magician of sound Berlioz is! Superbly played! No wonder the audience burst into applause at the end...

[@EmptyClownCar]

Everytime I hear this I'm taken back to my childhood watching A Journey Through Fairyland. This song definitely made the tentacle monster of death scarier.

[@safasaleh3010]

This piece warms my heart every time

[@dallen3000]

... no sound?

[@enriquesanchez2001]

That was tremendous ♥♥♥♥ Strangely, it brought tears to my eyes! Probably because I am in the midst of studying this very masterpiece at the moment!

[@Mr._Creosote]

The ophicleide, like mortal sin Was fostered by the serpent

[@igorbrass]

Фантастика! Супер!

[@shingoyoshikawa7594]

ピストン式ホルン、初めて見た。学生時代に吹奏楽部にいたときメロフォンを演奏する後輩がいたけど、ちょうどその逆巻きだなぁ。

[@moravian7]

GOOSEBUMPS !!!

[@kimmykai516]

Masterful playing and interpretation!

[@dfdhgtrss212]

Really interesting church bells

[@jaysparc]

So nice to hear/see historically informed performance taking back the classical era. To me, original instruments is where it's at.

[@tesmith47]

Very cool , not the power of modern low brass, but very absorbing. I liked it

[@jamesrenold259]

The pizz.+woodwinds almost sounds like steel drums

[@davidpartouche1939]

Bravo Patrick et Corentin ;-)

[@JohanHerrenberg]

Goosebumps.

[@kristenungstad3252]

Woah! It sounds so much better with an the period instruments!

[@mattib43]

2:07 I’m learning from there on on my bass, the piece is so hard but sooo cool

[@mattib43]

Damn

[@schonkable]

In the context of this music, the ophicleide definitely sounds better than the tuba (IMO).

[@pijitexpitexs3745]

it's amazing

[@АлинаБояркина-в2д]

Is it possible to find full record of symphony?

[@jmferris1138]

Jack: Hi. I've got an appointment with Mr. Ullman. My name is Jack Torrance. Lady Receptionist: His office is the first door on the left. Jack: Thank you.

[@ericB076]

Magnifique !!

[@bckm54]

wonder what the musicians playing the serpent and ophicleide normally play here... my guess is tuba...

[@connorlange594]

The guy who plays serpent in this is actually kinda famous for being a professional serpent player

[@counterfit5]

Gharnie Chouou I can’t say I’ve ever seen a serpent held the way he does

[@andreafalconiero9089]

@@connorlange594 Yes -- Patrick Wibart seems to specialize in serpent and ophicleide -- I haven't seen him perform on modern instruments, although he probably started his training on euphonium or something similar. Anyway, it's good that there's at least _one_ person in the world capable of playing these things well!

[@Danny-lm9xk]

Most serpent players come from trombone/bass trombone or euphonium, however there are a few who started on tuba

[@classicalperformances8777]

Oh, well done brass yet again!love

[@moviebuffful]

Best I’ve heard great bravo

[@CalderwoodPercussion]

This is awesome!

[@gallermaez]

De fantastiques instruments , pour une symphonie qui ne l'est pas moins !

[@alexalestareon695]

That was wonderful!!!!

[@marccarter4393]

Terrific rendition!!

[@kazawolf]

The tied eighth notes always sync up at 4:50 when they're supposed to alternate. C'est la vie.

[@willduffay2207]

Sounds fantastic! Thank you for sharing!! One complaint, though: the tricksy film production means we never see any section properly. The odd half an instrument, or the trombones through the harp strings. I'd love to be able to actually watch the whole brass section playing, and see what their various instruments are.

[@carolinaroot3492]

Wow!! Playing piston horns!

[@derpysheep5872]

The ophicleide’s key system brings up one major question: does the ophicleide have an altissimo range or pedal range?

[@zandergrier1302]

Its lowest note is A1, nowhere near a normal tuba, but it can go much higher much easier. The Bb1 actually is the pedal note weirdly enough. It has the same length of tubing as a trombone.

[@youtuuba]

Regardless of the key system, the ophicleide shares the same acoustical principles with any other conical bore brass instrument. But of course there are small differences between any examples of a class of instrument.

[@lethalweaboo8662]

It's crazy to me how the one that sounds more like a tuba is the wooden one.

[@carolinaroot3492]

It is the ancestor of the modern tuba! Good ear!

[@billwillson890]

Nonsound?

[@eianmulkey4339]

We play this as a stand tune for our school

[@robarnum7180]

Bass players using Dragonetti bows ( out curved with big bow frog) for you non bassists. just thought I'd let you know.

[@glowco.717]

I was wondering about that. What's up with the strings?

[@SEELE-ONE]

How do dragonetti bows differ from the regular bows?

[@lnsullivan422]

Just makes me think of The Shining

[@CohenMore]

Because the first part of this song inspired the shining theme

[@lnsullivan422]

@@CohenMore yep! One of the best uses of it in film history.

[@CohenMore]

@@lnsullivan422 Yeah it's amazing it's good in doctor sleep but nothing will beat the original from 1980

[@miltonparker7001]

Sublime !

[@loganfruchtman953]

This and the Overture to Mendelssohns A Midsummer Nights Dream are the two pierces that utilize the instrument the best.

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

On the bell of the serpent you can see the name "Seuss". I kid. Don't go look. :D

[@carolinaroot3492]

😮😅

[@majcrash]

An absolutely amazing performance! I'm seeing comments about the instruments being from the 1830s. I didn't think valves were invented that early. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@jomarluke]

The Wieprecht tuba (first one with valves) was developed in 1835. So, I'm thinking they had valves before that. Also, some of the valved horns were able to remove the valve set and play as a natural horn. Crazy stuff, but hey, they were inventive then. The ophicleide, oh lordy, was/is the best instrument ever. I own one and absolutely love playing it. More so than a baritone horn/euphonium, but not more than tuba :)

[@derycktrahair8108]

I thought that the 3 valve system was patented in 1815? I may be wrong but there was a mention of the history of it in the Cornet tutor book by Arbens. Ask your Brass Band mates. They would have studied out of that book. Hey, wasn't that a great performance.

[@youtuuba]

The ophicleide was invented in 1817 and patented in 1821. The serpent is commonly regarded as being 'invented' around 1590.

[@gregmonks]

The valved Horn with stolzel valves appeared in 1818.

[@gregmonks]

@@youtuuba By Edme Guillaume.

[@sofiabonelli9121]

Does anyone have a link to the whole performance? Would love to hear March to the Scaffold on the French bassoons.

[@eddiethefiddler]

Here's the March done by OAE - a brilliant performance I attended in Helsinki. The rest of the symphony is there too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWTam2qDeJ6cqZI

[@sebastianoburelli3721]

Shining

[@sergioropo3019]

Nice energy.

[@javableak]

Brutal!

[@violadabratsche4914]

I have never seen a serpent held like that?? Is it a lizard?

[@ryandakotafarris8528]

Is the video of the entire performance available somewhere?

[@albi400]

quasi ... irriconoscibile!

[@LNC4P]

This sounds like it was the inspiration for The Shining theme.

[@joeppeeters6222]

Are all of the instruments from the 1830 (bassoons , clarinets, flutes, horns and oboes)?

[@andreafalconiero9089]

The trombones/sackbuts used here are interesting -- they seem to be transitional instruments, with a more flared bell than the typical sackbut used in the renaissance/baroque, but less so than a modern trombone. I guess the bore is narrower also.

[@alexanderbelser366]

I believe that they are Victorian small bore (pea-shooter) Trombones

[@LaurasLastDitch]

I wondered the same thing. The bassoons look more advanced keywork than I'd expect for 1830.

[@mattlaplante6500]

I could be wrong but my guess is they’re playing modern french bassoons

[@minka866]

@@mattlaplante6500 , Wiennerhorn

[@greatshawn2165]

Isn't this the theme from "The shining"?

[@moviebuffful]

Yes the opening titles driving toward that lovely hotel

[@youtuuba]

No, it is NOT the theme from The Shining. The Shining theme was instead lifted from the theme of this movement of the symphony, namely the ancient "Dies Irae" (Day of Wrath), commonly used to associate a piece of music with death. In other words, both Berlioz and Carlos (this symphony and The Shining) borrowed the same pre-existing musical theme.

[@OBrasilo]

@@youtuuba The theme from The Shining definitely shares phrasing and instrumentation with Berlioz, though.

[@youtuuba]

@@OBrasilo , I have not watched The Shining recently, but my recollection is that the opening music was a synthesizer realization by Wendy Carlos. If I am correct, then the soundtrack could not share instrumentation with Berlioz's use of the Dies It as theme. As for phrasing, it is a simple chant phrase, and 'phrasing' is implicit.....it would be very unlikely for them to be much different.

[@OBrasilo]

@@youtuuba The final note of the second line ("Solve sæclum in favilla") - in the original chant, it's a single note, but in both Berlioz and The Shining, it's two notes.

[@carolinaroot3492]

The woodwinds at 5:50 😮

[@dbadagna]

Performance probably took place in Paris, France

[@rachmaninoffsergeibasilyeb7315]

5:04~5:12 it sounds like totentanz

[@albertopinoblanco]

well, is also a Dies Irae, older than Totentanz so, they have to resemble by force...

[@georgeeroes256]

Dies irae dies illa

[@AljoniMusiCo]

Nice!

[@jpstenino]

Magnificent performance and video thank you subscribed

[@XaviHaunts]

Pretty sure this tune is used to represent a sorta theme for death.... also this melody can be heard in nightmare before Christmas and of course, the shining just to name a few

[@kayl7953]

The Dies Irae ('days of wrath, days of mourning') was a traditional part of the Roman Catholic funeral mass when I was young -- one of my favorite bits to sing.

[@brucekuehn4031]

Day of wrath and doom impending! David's word with Sibyl's blending, Heaven and earth in ashes ending!

[@raythirawat3230]

What's the instrument playing at 5:05

[@travisolsonmusic]

Ray2740 Music Those look like cornets to me.

[@Swedbander]

I think those are Cornopeans.

[@svenlarsson]

Cornets

[@alanaurelia5372]

Cool

[@mason11198]

1:14 That bow is a bit tight there buddy (See replies to see why it was tight)

[@mattib43]

Mason Guy ikr

[@armisael7885]

I think thats how the bows were like back in the day because if you could not already tell, this is an old fashioned orchestra

[@UlimorUdamenta]

He's using a very old style bow, probably baroque, before the Dragonetti bows

[@mason11198]

@@UlimorUdamenta Thanks for letting me know :)

[@rodneyworkman285]

Is there a video of movement IV from this performance?

[@colinreid3544]

3.25 Ed China on Clarinet !!!

[@KaitiKat216]

0:00 to 0:12 sounds like The Shining.

[@kronkepus3671]

It is

[@chanunglim8048]

The sound doesn't work any more. Any tips?

[@forveillelier]

What is the name of that instrument? 1:49

[@forveillelier]

The french horn with 2 keys, name?

[@theafellacomposer]

It seems that one of the silver plated trombones have a trigger. Am I seeing it right or am I mistaken?

[@TinkerInTheShop]

Is the full performance available somewhere? I'm sure I had watched it but can't find it.

[@emcee6365]

I am getting no sound from this video

[@Cancun771]

The tone that these guys are releasing from these frankly very crappy instruments is beyond amazing.

[@おとはまちゃん]

It is a musical instrument that was at the Musical Instrument Museum of Musashino University

[@forveillelier]

Does anyone know the name of the French Horn with 2 keys?

[@dattallaudiophile236]

Damn, when they started playing I thought it was the theme from The Shining. Yes I'm an ignorant peasant I'm sorry 🤣🤣🤣

[@liammartin2089]

Dat Tall Audiophile You’re not technically wrong, the shining theme is basically just this movement arranged for a synthesizer

[@medora2499]

This looks a lot like the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

[@MichaelRupprecht]

Eigntlich wirklich klasse, das mal auf den originalen Instrumenten zu hören. Nur leider irgendwie zu nüchtern gespielt...

[@mattib43]

1:47

[@newstone006]

Comment s'appelle les cuivres au tout début svp ?

[@grey878]

The curvy one is the Serpent and the bigger gold one is an ophocleide

[@TehObLiVioUs]

I SWEAR IT'S CLOCKWORK ORANGE --- first few seconds intro part oop i'm wrong totally meant THE SHINING prologue .........literally

[@elijahramirez2829]

What type of bow are the basses using? Looks like a German bow but not quite.

[@Sockem1223]

Only name I've ever heard for them is the baroque bow. Style that came over from the viola de gamba family iirc

[@ThomasDawkins88]

The large bow is called a Dragonetti bow, after the Venetian bass virtuoso Domenico Dragonetti, who refined it for his own use throughout his life.

[@bassavino]

Yep, Drgonetti bow. Look, gut strings, too (at least the G and D). The playing is clean and punchy.