Oficleide

As Printed on a Score

Labels the ophicleide staff in nineteenth-century scores — Oficleide in Italian, Ophicléide in French, Ophikleide in German. It is written in bass clef at sounding pitch. Modern performances usually give the part to the tuba (or to the euphonium for high parts), so the word on the page rarely names the instrument you hear.

Also spelled: Ophicleide, Ophikleide, Ophicléide, Ophicleides, Oficleidi

How Composers Use It

A keyed brass bass of the early nineteenth century, with a cup mouthpiece and large padded keys over its tone holes, giving a rough, vocal, slightly unruly tone. Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream overture and Berlioz used it as the bass of the brass until the valved tuba replaced it. Today it is a period-instrument color; if you write for it, name it explicitly and give the tuba as an alternative.