OPHICLEIDE (dor, "a serpent or and is)tell, "a key "), a musical instrument of the inflatile kind, made of brass or copper, and intended to supersede the serrent--of which it is a decided improve ment-in the orchestra and in militarT bands. It is a conical tube, the longest nearly U feet in length, terminating in a bell, like the horn. It has 10 ventageti, or holes, all of which are stopped by keys, similar to those of the bassoon, only of larger dimensions, and is furnished with the same kind of mouth-piece as the serpent. The scale of the base ophicleide is from n, the third space below the base staff, to c, the fifth added space above it, including every tone and semi-tone within this compass. 31usic for the is written in the Wm clef ; for the alto, or ophirleide quint, in the treble clef. When the two instruments play together, the music for the alto is written an octavo higher than that for the base.
The ophicleide was invented some years ago, in Germany. It is too noisy an instrument to be played in any but spacious buildings. There are several varieties of the instrument. In its early form it was used in the military bands of the northern sovereigns, when the troops of the allies occupied Paris. M. Labbaye, a manufacturer of musical instruments in that city, added new keys to it, and otherwise much extended its capabilities; besides which, he discovered a better mode of constructing the tube than had been practised, and thus greatly ameliorated its tone. These improvements were reported to the French Society of Arts in 1821 by M. Franeccur, in consequence of which Labbaye obtained a patent for five years. The ophieleide first reached England in 1834, one of extraordinary dimensions having been manu factured abroad for the Birmingham Musical Festival of that year. In the Supplement to the Musical Library ' for November, 1834, it is thus mentioned : "A new instrument, the double-base ophielcide, made for this festival, and now first introduced into England, proved emi nently serviceable in the choruses, and whenever strength was required.
The volume of sound it emits is immense, but the tone is rich, round, and blends well with the voices. We are much deceived if this instru ment is not destined to operate a great change in the constitution of our orchestras : well played, it will answer the purpose of four double bases, and is well calculated to form a third part to the bassoons, which has long been a desideratum. As a contra-basso to the trombones, it will not be found less useful." This prognostic has proved correct ; the instrument is now become indispensable. Examples of its effective and judicious use are to be found in the 'Gloria,' and Marche Itdligieuse' of Cherubini's third solemn mass, performed at the consecration of Charles X.
OPHIU'ClIUS (the Serpent-bearer), one of the old constellations, representing a man holding a serpent, which is twined about hi,n. But the moderns make a separate constellation of the serpent. [SsiiPEss.] Ophiuchus has also been called Anguitenens and Serpentarius. The figure of the man rests his feet upon the back of Scorpius, and is surrounded by Scorpius, Libra, Bootes, Corona, Hercules, and Aquila. It is not a constellation of any note, containing no star of the first, and only one of the second, magnitude. The number and insignificance of the mythological traditions connected with it are rendered less sur prising by this paucity of remarkable stars, since the latter is a pre sumption that the constellation itself is of a later date than Orion or Ursa Major.
The following is a list of the principal stars :