As distinct from trompette basse (bass trumpet), a type of upright Serpent patented by Louis Alexandre Frichot of Paris in 1810. It was evidently an improvement on the so-called ‘English’ Bass-horn which Frichot had invented during the 1790s. The basse-trompette was provided with six finger-holes in two groups of three, and four or five keys. Unlike that of the bass-horn, which was sharply mitred and had a large looped crook, the body tube of the basse-trompette was bent upon itself three times, forming one large and one smaller loop with a short mouthpipe to carry the mouthpiece. According to the patent specification (see illustration) the lower curve of the smaller loop was formed by interchangeable bows of different length for pitch adjustment (pièces de rechange); this idea may have influenced Coëffet’s design for his ophimonocleide, which incorporated a double slide (pompe) for altering the pitch.
There is a basse-trompette in the Musée de la Musique, Paris (no.651). It was described in detail and much praised by Choron (1815), who mentioned that it could be played with a mouthpiece of either serpent or trumpet proportions, yielding different and characteristic tone qualities. However, it is unlikely that a trumpet mouthpiece would be effective on a bass instrument with a large conical bore. Sachs suggested that the basse-trompette was the same instrument as Frichot’s basse-cor of 1806. This view was held by Langwill, who also noted an alternative, later name (trombe) and mentioned the announcement of Frichot’s invention by the Académie of Beaux-Arts, Paris, in 1812. Pierre (1893) gave the basse-trompette as dating from 1806 to 1810, thereby corroborating Sach’s opinion. Pierre also referred to the tromba of 1812, but did not associate it with the earlier instrument.
Waterhouse-LangwillI
Brevet français, no.404 (31 Dec 1810)
L.-J. Francoeur and A.-E. Choron: Traité général des voix et des instruments d’orchestre et principalement des instruments à vent (Paris, 1815)
G. Chouquet: Le musée de Conservatoire national de musique: catalogue raisonné (Paris, 2/1884)
C. Pierre: Les facteurs d’instruments de musique (Paris, 1893/R)
C. Sachs: Real-Lexicon der Musikinstrumente (Berlin, 1913/R)
PHILIP BATE/STEPHEN J. WESTON