Saxophone

Stuff about saxophone

 Today we will learn….
• What is Saxophone?
• Characteristic of Saxophone
• History of Saxophone
• Uses of Saxophone
• Saxophone Family
• Famous Saxophonist
 What is Saxophone
• The saxophone (referred to colloquially as the sax) is
a family of woodwind instruments usually made of
brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece.
• Although most saxophones are made from brass,
they are categorized as woodwind instruments,
because sound is produced by an oscillating reed
(traditionally made out of woody cane) rather than
lips vibrating in a mouthpiece cup as with the brass
instrument family.
 What is Saxophone
• As with the other woodwind instruments, the pitch of
the note being played is controlled by covering holes
in the body tube to control the resonant frequency
of the air column by changing the effective length
of the tube. The player covers or uncovers the holes
by pressing keys.
What is Saxophone
 What is Saxophone
• The saxophone is used in classical music (such as
concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, and,
occasionally, orchestras), military bands, marching
bands, jazz (such as big bands and jazz combos), and
contemporary music.
• The saxophone is also used as a solo and melody
instrument or as a member of a horn section in
some styles of rock and roll and popular music.
• Saxophone players are called saxophonists.
What is Saxophone
 Characteristic of Saxophone
Pitch and Range
• Most modern saxophones are keyed to produce a low
B♭ (relative to the instrument's transposition) with all
keys closed.
• The highest keyed note has traditionally been F two
and a half octaves above low B♭, while the keyed
range is extended to F♯ on most recent performance-
class instruments.
• A high G key is most common on modern soprano
saxophones.
 Characteristic of Saxophone
Pitch and Range
• Notes above F are considered part of the altissimo
register of any saxophone, and can be produced using
advanced embouchure techniques and fingering
combinations.
• Keywork facilitating altissimo playing is a feature of
modern saxophones.
• Modern saxophone players have extended the range
to over four octaves on tenor and alto. Music for
most saxophones is usually notated using treble clef.
Characteristic of Saxophone
Pitch and Range
 Characteristic of Saxophone
Designs and Features
• The straight soprano and sopranino saxophones consist of a straight
conical tube with a flared bell at the end opposite the mouthpiece.
• Alto and larger saxophones have a detachable curved neck and a U-
shaped bend (the bow) that directs the tubing upward as it
approaches the bell.
• Soprano and even sopranino saxes are sometimes made in this
distinctive curved shape, and there are rare examples of alto, tenor,
and baritone saxophones with mostly straight bodies.
• The baritone, bass, and contrabass saxophones accommodate the
length of the bore with extra bows and right-angle bends between the
main body and the mouthpiece.
 Characteristic of Saxophone
Designs and Features
• The left hand operates keys from the upper part of the
body tube while the right hand operates keys from the
lower part.
• The right thumb holds up the instrument with a thumb
hook, while the left thumb sits on a thumb rest,
stabilizing the instrument and operating the octave
key.
• The weight of most saxophones is largely supported by
a neckstrap attached to a ring on the back of the
instrument.
Characteristic of Saxophone
Designs and Features
 Characteristic of Saxophone
Designs and Features
• Palm keys and the front F key are operated by the
left hand, and the high E, high F♯ and high G keys are
operated by the right hand. There are keys for
alternate fingerings for F♯, B♭, and C.
• Both pinkies open keys to raise pitch by a semitone
and close keys at the lower range of the instrument.
The pinkie keys are referred to as table keys.
• If an instrument has a low A, that key is operated by
the left thumb.
Characteristic of Saxophone
Designs and Features
 History of Saxophone
1841 
• Adolphe Sax first showed his creation (a C bass saxophone) to the composer Hector
Berlioz. The great composer was impressed by the uniqueness and versatility of the
instrument.

1842
• Adolphe Sax went to Paris. On June 12, Hector Berlioz published an article in the
Paris magazine "Journal des Debats" describing the saxophone.

1844 
• Adolphe Sax reveals his creation to the public through the Paris Industrial Exhibition.
On February 3 of that same year, Adolphe's good friend Hector Berlioz conducts a
concert featuring his choral work. Hector's choral work arrangement is called Chant
Sacre and it featured the saxophone. In December, the saxophone had its orchestral
debut at the Paris Conservatory through the opera "Last King of Juda" by Georges
Kastner.
 History of Saxophone
1845  
• French military bands during this time used oboes, bassoons, and french
horns, but Adolphe replaced these with the Bb and Eb saxhorns.

1846
• Adolphe Sax obtained a patent for his saxophones that had 14
variations. Among them are E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat
soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat
baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass and F contrabass.
1847  
• On February 14 in Paris, a saxophone school was created. It was set up
at "Gymnase Musical," a military band school.
 History of Saxophone

1858   
• Adolphe Sax became a professor at the Paris Conservatory.

1866 
• The patent for the saxophone expired and the Millereau Co.
patents the saxophone featuring a forked F# key.
1875
• Goumas patented the saxophone with a fingering similar to
the clarinet's Boehm system.
 History of Saxophone
1881    
• Adolphe extends his original patent for the saxophone. He also made
changes to the instrument such as lengthening the bell to include Bb
and A and extending the instrument's range to F# and G using the
fourth octave key.
1885 
• The first saxophone was built in the U.S. by Gus Buescher.

1886
• The saxophone underwent changes again, the right-hand C trill key
was devised and half-hole system for the first fingers of both hands.
 History of Saxophone

1887     
• The predecessor of the articulated G# Evette and Schaeffer
and tuning ring was invented by the Association Des Ouvriers.
1888  
• The single octave key for the saxophone was invented and
rollers for low Eb and C was added.
1894
• Adolphe Sax died. His son, Adolphe Edouard, took over the
business.
 History of Saxophone
1914 
• The saxophone entered the world of jazz bands.

1928   
• The Sax factory was sold to the Henri Selmer Company. To this day
many manufacturers of musical instruments create their own line of
saxophones and it continues to enjoy a prominent position in jazz
music.
1930s and 1940s,
• The modern layout of the saxophone emerged during the 1930s and
1940s, first with right-side bell keys introduced by C. G. Conn on
baritones, then by King on altos and tenors. 
 History of Saxophone
1936
• The mechanics of the left hand table were revolutionized
by Selmer with their Balanced Action instruments , capitalizing
on the right-side bell key layout.
1948   
• Selmer introduced their Super Action saxophones with offset left
and right hand stack keys.
1940s
• Marcel Mule established study of the saxophone as a classical
instrument at the Conservatoire de Paris 
 Uses of Saxophone
Military Bands
• The saxophone first gained popularity in military bands.
Although the instrument was initially ignored in Germany,
French and Belgian military bands were quick to include the
instrument in their ensembles. Most French and Belgian
military bands incorporate at least a quartet of saxophones,
comprising an E♭ baritone, B♭ tenor, E♭ alto and B♭ soprano.
• These four instruments have proved the most popular of all
of Sax's creations, with the E♭ contrabass and B♭ bass usually
considered impractically large and the E♭ sopranino
insufficiently powerful. British military bands tend to include
at minimum two saxophonists, on the alto and tenor.
 Uses of Saxophone
Concert Bands
• The saxophone was introduced into the concert band,
which usually calls for an E♭ alto saxophone, a B♭
tenor saxophone, and an E♭ baritone saxophone. A
concert band may include two altos, one tenor, and
one baritone.
• A B♭ soprano saxophone is also used, in which case it
is played by the first alto saxophonist. A bass
saxophone in B♭ is used in some concert band music
(especially music by Percy Grainger).
 Uses of Saxophone
Chamber Music
• Saxophones are used in chamber music, such as
saxophone quartets and other chamber combinations
of instruments. The classical saxophone quartet
consists of a B♭ soprano saxophone, E♭ alto
saxophone, B♭ tenor saxophone, and E♭ baritone
saxophone (SATB).
• On occasion, the soprano is replaced with a second
alto sax (AATB); a few professional saxophone
quartets have featured non-standard
instrumentation, such as James Fei's Alto Quartet
 Uses of Saxophone
Chamber Music
• Saxophones are used in chamber music, such as
saxophone quartets and other chamber combinations
of instruments. The classical saxophone quartet
consists of a B♭ soprano saxophone, E♭ alto
saxophone, B♭ tenor saxophone, and E♭ baritone
saxophone (SATB).
• On occasion, the soprano is replaced with a second
alto sax (AATB); a few professional saxophone
quartets have featured non-standard
instrumentation, such as James Fei's Alto Quartet
 Uses of Saxophone
Chamber Music
• Saxophones are used in chamber music, such as
saxophone quartets and other chamber combinations
of instruments. The classical saxophone quartet
consists of a B♭ soprano saxophone, E♭ alto
saxophone, B♭ tenor saxophone, and E♭ baritone
saxophone (SATB).
• On occasion, the soprano is replaced with a second
alto sax (AATB); a few professional saxophone
quartets have featured non-standard
instrumentation, such as James Fei's Alto Quartet
 Uses of Saxophone
Classical Music
• There is a repertoire of classical compositions and arrangements for the
SATB instrumentation dating back to the nineteenth century, particularly
by French composers who knew Sax. However, the largest body of
chamber works for saxophone are from the modern era of classical
saxophone initiated by Marcel Mule in 1928. Sigurd Raschèr followed as a
soloist in orchestral works, starting in 1931, and also figured prominently
in development of modern classical saxophone repertoire.
• The Mule quartet is often considered the prototype for quartets due to
the level of virtuosity demonstrated by its members and its central role in
the development of modern quartet repertoire. However, organized
quartets existed before Mule's ensemble, the prime example being the
quartet headed by Edward A. Lefebre (1834–1911), which was a subset of
Patrick Gilmore's 22nd Regiment band between 1873 and 1893.
 Uses of Saxophone
Symphony Orchestras
• In the 20th and 21st centuries, the saxophone found
increased popularity in symphony orchestras. The
instrument has also been used in opera and choral
music. Musical theatre scores also can include parts
for saxophone, sometimes doubling another
woodwind or brass instrument.
 Uses of Saxophone
Jazz Music
• Although it has remained a peripheral instrument in
the classical music tradition, the saxophone has
played a leading role in jazz, and it is here that its
technical and expressive potential has been most
fully explored.
• With jazz, the ideal instrument allows players to
express their individuality, and so they like a
saxophone with a greater taper (a high angle of
graduation). The raspy tones and buzz of the
instrument contribute to the texture of the music.
Uses of Saxophone
Jazz Music
Saxophone Family
 Saxophone Family
• Originally there were 14 members of the saxophone family.
In fact, Adolphe Sax conceived of an orchestra consisting
solely of saxophones, and so he made saxophones in a range
of sizes.
• Yet today, there are only 6 types in widespread use. In pitch
order from high to low, they are the sopranino, soprano,
alto, tenor, baritone and bass.
 Saxophone Family
• Originally there were 14 members of the saxophone family.
In fact, Adolphe Sax conceived of an orchestra consisting
solely of saxophones, and so he made saxophones in a range
of sizes.
• Yet today, there are only 6 types in widespread use. In pitch
order from high to low, they are the sopranino, soprano,
alto, tenor, baritone and bass.
Bb Soprano Saxophone
 Bb Soprano Saxophone
• One of the four most common saxophones today.
• Used in jazz bands as a melody instrument with the clarinet and
trumpet.
• Second highest pitched in the saxophone family and it has the
same/similar key work to the rest too.
• The soprano saxophone resembles the clarinet and often plays
similar parts or the same part as the clarinet in a band.
• The main difference between the soprano saxophone and the
clarinet is that it produces a louder more penetrating sound at the
higher end of a scale.
• Also it sometimes plays parts the oboe would play because of its
similar tone. This saxophone may be seen in jazz bands, military
bands, chamber groups (quartets)
Eb Alto Saxophone
 Eb Alto Saxophone
• The second smallest in the four most common
saxophones, it is larger than the soprano but smaller than
the tenor.
• The small size of the alto and the easy ability to make a
sound is why many beginners are inclined to choose this
saxophone as their instrument. Therefore, it is one of the
top choices for a beginner. 
• The alto saxophone is very common among different
bands today. For instance, you may see it in jazz bands,
swing bands, marching bands, military bands, chamber
groups (quartets), and rock and roll bands. In fact, this
saxophone has been involved in the evolution of jazz.
Bb Tenor Saxophone
 Bb Tenor Saxophone
• The second largest saxophone in the four most common is the
tenor saxophone.
• The tenor saxophone requires more air than the alto sax but less
than the baritone. This is also one of the saxophone choices that
are better for beginners.
• With a tenor saxophone you play it on the side just like the
baritone saxophone. You will see a tenor saxophone most times
in bands that contain saxophones (military bands, jazz bands,
swing bands, and saxophone quartets).
• Often in concert bands it plays the melody line, but there are a
few exceptions. In jazz bands, tenor saxes are often referred to as
"Jazz Tenor's" as they are commonly featured in elaborate solos.
Eb Baritone Saxophone
 Eb Baritone Saxophone
• This large saxophone is also in the four most
common saxophones today. It is usually known as
the " Bari Sax" and it weighs 6-7 kilograms! That's
right 6-7kgs!
• The reed is twice the size of an alto's and the Bari
sax is often held in a harness.
• It is more popular in classical music than orchestral
music, and you may often see it in military bands. It
often plays the bass line in a band.
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Sopranino Saxophone
Piccolo Soprano Saxophone
Piccolo Soprano Saxophone
Bass Saxophone
Contrabass Saxophone
Sub Contrabass Saxophone
 Famous Saxophonist
Classical
Marcel Mule (1901-2001)
• Frenchman Marcel Mule was a highly influential figure in the
world of the classical saxophone throughout the 20th century.
Seen as the creator of the French saxophone school, Mule was the
second professor of saxophone at the Paris Conservatoire, after
Adolph Sax himself.
• His teaching involved emphasis on sound quality, and many of his
pupils became significant figures in the music world. A pioneer of
the classical saxophone, Mule premiered a great deal of new
repertoire, and led the way for the genre to expand and develop.
Famous Saxophonist
Classical
 Famous Saxophonist
Classical
Eugene Rousseau (born 1932)
• Eugene Rousseau was an acclaimed pupil of Mule’s, but has
since become an influential instrumentalist in his own right.
Rousseau has achieved many milestones in the classical
saxophone genre, including performing the first solo
saxophone recitals in cities such as London, Paris and Vienna.
• In 1969 he co-founded the World Saxophone Congress, and
he has been president of both the Comité International du
Saxophone and the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Famous Saxophonist
Classical
 Famous Saxophonist
Classical
Jess Gillam (born 1998)
• Jess Gillam is a young saxophonist from Cumbria, who reached the final of BBC Young
Musician in 2016. Her ‘remarkable youthful drive and efficiency’ along with her
impeccable mastery of the instrument has led to massive popularity.
• Recent achievements include winning a classical Brit, signing a record deal with Decca,
and performing at the Last Night of the Proms. Her sound on the instrument is as a result
of hard work and dedication, devoting two hours every day to practicing long notes.
• Recently performing the premiere of a piece written especially for her by her teacher and
renowned saxophonist John Harle, Gillam is also a fierce advocate of the importance of
informing and enthusing people about classical music.
• Her openly-discussed opinion on the lack of musical education in schools is hopefully a
sign of things to come. As a high-profile young ambassador for classical music, Gillam’s
influence can only be positive.
Famous Saxophonist
Classical
 Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956)
• Kenny G's career started with a job as a sideman for Barry White's Love Unlimited
Orchestra in 1973; he was 17 and still in high school. He continued to play
professionally while studying for a major in accounting at the University of Washington
in Seattle, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He played with the
funk band Cold, Bold and Together before becoming a credited member of The Jeff
Lorber Fusion. He began his solo career after his period with Lorber.
• Kenny G earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 for
playing the longest note ever recorded on a saxophone. Using circular
breathing, Kenny G held an E-flat for 45 minutes and 47 seconds at J&R Music
World in New York City.
• Kenny G was named the 25th highest-selling artist in America by the RIAA,
with 48 million albums sold in the U.S. as of July 31, 2006.
Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
 Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
Sidney Bechet (May 14th, 1897 - May 14th, 1959)
• A contemporary of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet was
perhaps the first to develop a virtuosic approach to the
saxophone.
• He played the soprano sax and, with his voice-like tone and
bluesy style of improvisation, he boosted the involvement
of the saxophone in early jazz styles.
Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
 Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
Sidney Bechet (May 14th, 1897 - May 14th, 1959)
• A contemporary of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet was
perhaps the first to develop a virtuosic approach to the
saxophone.
• He played the soprano sax and, with his voice-like tone and
bluesy style of improvisation, he boosted the involvement
of the saxophone in early jazz styles.
Famous Saxophonist
Contemporary
 Famous Saxophonist
Jazz
Charles "Charlie" Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955)
• Charlie Parker Jr. nicknamed "Bird" and "Yardbird", was an American
jazz saxophonist and composer.
• Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the
development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos,
virtuosic technique, and advanced harmonies.
• Parker was a blazingly fast virtuoso and introduced revolutionary
harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants
of altered chords, and chord substitutions. Primarily a player of the
alto saxophone, Parker's tone ranged from clean and penetrating to
sweet and somber.
Famous Saxophonist
Jazz
 Famous Saxophonist
Jazz
Chris Potter (b. January 1st, 1971)
• A child saxophone prodigy, Chris Potter took saxophone
technique to a new level.
• He began his career with trumpeter Red Rodney, and soon became
the first choice tenor player for a number of notable bandleaders
including Dave Holland, Paul Motian, and Dave Douglas.
• Having mastered the styles of previous jazz icons, Potter
specializes in virtuosic solos built on motives or tone sets. The
ease with which he plays in all registers of the saxophone is
practically unmatched.
Famous Saxophonist
Jazz
 Famous Saxophonist
Jazz
Ornette Coleman (b. March 9th, 1930)
• Beginning his career playing blues and R&B music, Coleman turned
heads in the 1960s with his “harmolodic” approach — a technique
with which he sought to equate harmony, melody, rhythm, and form.
• He didn’t adhere to conventional harmonic structures and his playing
came to be called “free jazz," which was wildly controversial.
• Since his early days of angering jazz purists, Coleman is now
considered the first avant-garde jazz musician.
• The avant-garde improvisation that he instigated has grown into a
substantial and diverse genre.
Famous Saxophonist
Jazz