Saxophones

Almost universally associated with smoky jazz clubs and hipster musicians, the saxophone's history is well suited to the image of a rebellious, spicy, quality musical instrument. Appropriately named the "voice of Sax", which is the literal translation or the word saxophone, its creator was one Adolphe Sax, a Belgian born clarinetist and instrument maker who had the unfortunate knack of offending rival instrument manufactures. This habit, along with the Parisian prejudice against him, prevented his inventions wide spread use for years, with the saxophone in all its varieties being relegated to military bands and the like.

The Saxophone

The saxophone belongs to the woodwind family, although it has a family of instruments all to its own. It is a conical instrument made typically of brass and played with a reed mouthpiece, like the clarinet that many feel was Sax's inspiration for this instrument. It was patented as 14 instruments divided into two groups.

The family designed for military band style performances are in E-flat and B-flat, while the family designed to be played in an orchestra was in the keys of C and F. Each grouping had sopranio, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass and contrabass designs. There was a subcontrabass design as well, but it was never made, along with some other patented types.

While it was originally designed for the orchestra, the flexibility of both the instrument and the saxophonists who love and play it have made it more commonly associated with popular music, big band music and jazz music.

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