The Glorious History Of The Saxophone
The saxophone, or sax, is a lively and popular instrument that is apart of the woodwind group of instruments. The sax is typically made of brass and is typically used in an orchestra, band, or other musical procession. The saxophone goes as far back as jazz and big band. Also, this instrument has been instrumental in the production of blues and even today, modern rock. This important instrument has also been big for military bands and marching bands.
The saxophone is a complicated instrument that consists of the following components:
Brass stock/horn
Single-reed mouthpiece
Tone holes (20-30)
Speaker holes
Keys (or pad cups)
Spit Valve
These parts of the instrument have been developed in the past few decades to include richer sounds through engineering and trial. The mouthpiece, as an example, has been produced by different materials like: gold, silver, rubber, glass, wood, porcelain, crystal, or bone. Instrument makers throughout the years have tried all types of things to better the sound of saxophones.
Saxophones have made a lasting impression since their inception by Adolphe Sax in 1841. Sax was determined to create an instrument that would bridge the gap between all other woodwinds and instruments. Sax made great headway and the saxophone was the leading instrument in orchestras put together in the late 19th century. For military, the sax did great when tuned to include B and E pitches. Also, the saxophone was made to create the C and F sounds for an orchestra. Down the road, this brass instrument was key in jazz music and was improved upon to produce pitches of all levels (A, B, C, G, F, and E).
Needless to say, Adolphe Sax’s patent expired in 1866 which lead to the vast manufacturing of modern saxophones by a multitude of companies. Then, in the 1950′s, a a man named M. Houvenaghel of France, introduced a special type of saxophones which introduced a single-tone key structure which helped the musician to control octaves with just the thumb; this development became common with the sax and was a permanent facet of saxophone creation from then on. Other methods were tested and tried but this kind remained the best.
In modern times, the saxophone is most common in rock, jazz, and military bands. Saxophones are built of either brass or bronze and are different in expense and sound. Preferences are made by most musicians of jazz and funk; many jazz musicians like mouthpieces with a more shallow chamber because it produces the high baffle, louder, and sharper tone. Other classical players appreciate a larger chamber because of the lower, milder tone. No matter the band, the saxophone is the popular instrument in music of all types. From inception to advancement, the sax has made strides by leaps and bounds and is said to be the cornerstone instrument of jazz and funk.
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