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Bate at the Proms - Serpents in Elijah

Carl Woodcroft rehearsing on the Milhouse serpent

Alert television viewers may have spotted a footnote in the recent BBC Proms series.  On 28th August they held a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.  This was performed by the Gabrieli Consort and Players, which comprises a large romantic orchestra and they incorporated instruments from the original score, which included ophicleides and serpents.  I was approached by Carl Woodcroft who was playing 3rd serpent.  He came to visit the collection a month in advance of the performance and together we selected an appropriate instrument.  Carl was particularly interested in the Key serpent that had been used by Richard Bentinck at the Battle of Waterloo.  However, on reflection, we decided it was probably not in good enough condition.  Instead, we settled on the Milhouse serpent.  It was in very good condition and had been restored in recent years.  Following the performance, the musicians gathered in Watford Town Hall to record the piece.  They are expecting the CD to be launched in September 2012.