Page 7 - Info Magazine nr 15 JANUARY 2021

What about the Ophicleide?
Is this the instrument Adolphe Sax used as example for the saxophone?

The ophicleide (from the Greek ophis = snake or serpent, and
kleis = key) originated in a search for a strong bass instrument
that would be especially suited for outside music. Unlike the
serpent, to whose name it refers, the ophicleide was made of
metal and had very large tone holes that are covered not by the
fingers, but by keys.

The ophicleide is a low brass instument that was used in bands
and orchestras during the nineteenth century. It was replaced
by the tuba.
In seeking to create a loud, low woodwind instrument, Adolphe
Sax experimented with placing a bass clarinet mouthpiece on
an ophicleide. This idea spawned the first saxophone.

It is still unsure if this really happened. Although Hector Berlioz,
the famous French composer, told this story - he had seen Sax
doing this - it is not 100% sure. There are different stories about
the invention of the saxophone. If you compare the shape of the
instrument you can imagine that Sax really just placed a mouth-
piece of a bass clarinet on the ophicleide.
The Ophicleide itself has almost disappeared. There are still
some musicians playing this instrument. Composers like Ber-
lioz, Wagner and Mendelssohn used this instrument in some of
their works. It is possible to buy one, there are some manufactu-
rers building the ophicleide. Prices around € 1200,- / € 2700,-

The family of
the Ophicleide
contains - like
the saxophones -
different sizes.