University News Last updated 17 June
BMus student Ioluwa Kuti has taken part in a unusual course dedicated to one of music’s lesser-known instruments, the serpent.
Inioluwa attended the specialist serpentarium course that brings together serpent players from around the world. The gathering takes place every two years, alternating between Edinburgh and the Southwest of England, with this year’s event held in the small rural village of Carlops outside Edinburgh.
During the four-day course, participants took part in intensive rehearsals, performing a wide range of music from Renaissance chorales to arrangements of well known pop songs. These sessions were designed for a large ensemble of serpent players, providing a rare opportunity to experience the instrument in a collaborative setting.
The course concluded with two public performances. The first took place at a medieval fayre held at Traquair House, where the ensemble performed in a historic setting, followed by a final concert in the village church in Carlops.
The serpent is an early predecessor of the tuba, made of wood in an S shape with six finger holes and wrapped in leather to make it airtight. It has a brass crook and a wood or ivory mouthpiece.
Invented in 16th Century France, it was originally used to support male voices in church choirs before appearing in military bands and orchestras, with composers like Mendelssohn, Berlioz and Richard Wagner who scored it in his first opera, Rienzi.
The course was recommended to Inioluwa by visiting RBC tutor Andy Kershaw, who teaches ophicleide another historical predecessor of the tuba, and supports Inioluwa’s secondary study.
With a strong interest in historic low brass as a classical tuba player, Inioluwa saw the course as a valuable opportunity to develop his skills on the serpent and gain insight into the wider world of historical performance, while meeting performers in the field.
Inioluwa said: “One of the highlights of the week was getting the chance to hear the acclaimed group The London Serpent Trio, which my tutor Andy is a member of, perform a recital as they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first concert this year. It was so incredible to hear such virtuosic playing from the trio, and it was unlike anything I’ve heard before. The week was just amazing, and everyone there was friendly and
supportive throughout. It was a memorable experience, and I'm so glad to have taken part in it.”