For several centuries, the "serpent" accompanied plainsong in French churches, before joining the symphony orchestra in the 18th century (Mendelssohn, Verdi, Wagner, Berlioz, Gossec etc....). Its repertoire is vast, ranging from religious music (from the 17th to the 19th century) to secular music. It is the ancestor of the tuba. Its rediscovery is enabling tuba and saxhorn players to discover early music and create new opportunities for themselves in the professional world.