Family of wind instruments in anche simple, invented towards 1840 by Adolphe
Sax.
Although it(he) is a part of the family of wood the saxophone is generally
shaped in a brass miscellany (there are also plastic instruments in the
very correct tone). It(he) consists of a beak in anche simple, similar to
that of the clarinet and the body bent back in conical gimlet. The instrument
counts between 20 and 24 holes controlled by keys. The dexterities of the
saxophone are the same that those of the clarinet, but its body in metal
gives to the saxophone a more vibrating and more penetrating stamp, which
can however, in certain registers, dress(take on) the sweetness of a flute.
The family of saxophones counts 6 members, from the sopranino to fa in the
bass in if flat; the most wide-spread are the soprano in if flat (who(which)
the straight(right) silhouette evokes the clarinet), the viola in mi bemol
and the tenor in if flat. The baritone in mi bemol and the bass are essentially
used in the military music.
The saxophone appears in the symphony orchestra in 1844. Hector Berlioz
and Georges Bizet use him(it) regularly in their orchestral works. A quartet
of saxophones holds an important role in Richard Strauss's Symphonia domestica
( 1903 ). The classic directory of the saxophone also counts some soloes:
" the Old Castle ", extracted from Tables(pictures) from an Exhibition
of Moussorgski, in Ravel's orchestration, a Rhapsody for saxophone and orchestrate
(1903) of Claude Debussy and a Whim for saxophone soprano, orchestra with
ropes and two Heitor Villa-Lobos's corns ( 1948 ). In the military brass
bands, saxophones replace generally clarinets.
The saxophone contributed abundantly to the development of the jazz and
enjoys a big popularity today. Among the most famous saxophonists appear
Sidney Bechet& ( sopranos), Charlie Parker ( viola), Lester Young, John
Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins ( tenor) and Gerry Mulligan.