Soprano ophicleide in B-flat

Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 680

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.

Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French

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Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris), Brass, French

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