Serpent (musical instrument)

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/serpent-musical-instrument

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who invented Serpent (musical instrument)?Late 16th century (circa 1590s)
2. What is the place of origin?France
3. What is the period of prominence?Late 16th century to mid-19th century
4. What is a Serpent and what does it sound like?The Serpent is a bass woodwind instrument that looks like a snake. It makes a mellow, deep sound that can be a bit reedy or buzzy. It can play powerful notes or subtle ones.
5. How is a Serpent made and what materials are used?It is made from wood, usually beech or maple, cut into a long conical shape and joined in sections. The body is covered with leather. It has a brass cup-shaped mouthpiece.

Conical Bore: A tube that gradually widens from one end to the other, affecting the instrument's tone.
Timbre: The unique sound quality or 'color' of a musical instrument.
Embouchure: The way a musician shapes their mouth and lips to produce sound on a wind instrument.
Chromatic Range: The full range of notes available on an instrument, including all sharps and flats.