Ranging from melancholy to joyous melodies, Saxophone belongs everywhere there is emotion. This woodwind instrument has been reigning in the world of music for years for its rich essence and deep tone that has flourished in many music genres like, jazz, blues, classical orchestra, English romantics, and contemporary music as well. Made of brass, this single-reed wind instrument utilizes vibrations of wind inside the instrument’s body to create a heavy sound wave.
History
The original saxophone was created around 1840 by an individual instrument designer, named Adolphe Sax. The instrument is named after his name only and thus it is called the Saxophone. He made some major improvisation on the traditional clarinet and utilized the large conical shape and agility of brass to create something more deep and unique. Creating a blend between ophicleide and clarinet Adolphe came up with the new instrument, named Saxophone.
Types of Saxophone
Adolphe, as a master designer of musical instruments, has created a range of Sax which could be incorporated with different genres of music along with a variety of ensembles. He created saxophones of different sizes to create tunes of high-range sopranino as well as low-range contrabass. He also created an alternative instrument name Saxhorn which consisted of valves and the structure of modern alto horns. He created a total of 14 types of different saxophones and four of them go worldwide recognition and have been widely used. The four major saxophones are Bb soprano Eb alto, Bb tenor, and Eb baritone. These are varied from high to low range and small to bigger sizes. The instrument has gone through a lot of changes but its authentic construction and essence have stayed the same.
Structure
It is a brass instrument with multiple tone holes through which the melody is created with the opening and closing of the holes. The long air chamber vibrates when air is blown through the mouthpiece and a richer tone is created through vibration. It has a conical shape at the end like a clarinet but it passes through a bend to create a grand sound with more resonance. The curved neck is the specialty of saxophones which makes it different from the soprano and clarinets. However, it requires a similar fingering combination and techniques to create a composition.
Influence in Music
Even though Saxophone is widely used in blues, jazz, and modern musical trends; the instrument gained its first recognition with military music. Soldier bands preferred to play saxophone during the phase of world war. Belgian and French military groups included saxophone as one of the major parts of their bands. B♭ tenor, E♭ alto, E♭ baritone, and B♭ soprano, etc are mostly used and proved themselves to be quite powerful to energize the soldiers. There were at least two saxophone players in each military band, one alto player and one tenor player.
Soon after, sax was being heavily used in the concert bands to produce more engaging classical orchestral compositions. The saxophone quartet of one baritone, one tenor, and two altos got very famous and was being introduced to the audience with exquisite compositions. It was also being used in chamber music as it can create different combinations that adapt with other instruments as well.
Later on, the instrument got included in jazz, blues, and other popular music while there was a ragtime music revolution going around with amazing ragged rhythms. Within 1920, the influence spread even further with the ‘saxophone craze’ among the music artist and listeners as well. Not only in the band was music but it was very much used in solo compositions and performances.
Nowadays, the saxophone is being a major part of alternative, contemporary, and indie music which is making a new wave of creativity through the music industry.
Some of the famous Saxophone players of all time
Saxophone artists have emerged in every era from different parts of the world and some of them are living an eternal life with their timeless compositions. Each of the artists has nurtured their creativity in particular types of Saxes whether baritone, alto, or tenor. Here are some of the best saxophone players of all time
- John Coltrane
- Charlie Parker
- Sam Rivers
- Coleman Hawkins
- Pepper Adams
- Gerry Mulligan
The list can keep going on while these pioneers have shown the path.
Some interesting facts about Sax
- Adolphe was the sole creator of the Saxophone who change the history of music however, he had gone through multiple tragedic incidents where he could have died. He was burnt, drowned, poisoned, and had many traumatic experiences yet stayed alive with his will.
- The saxophone was built to fill the gap between brass and woodwind instruments as it is only and first brass woodwind with a single reed.
- It is the most dynamic brass woodwind its diversity has let it stay through all these years as well as the coming ones.
In a nutshell,
The saxophone has great flexibility and a dynamic aura that can go with any kind of composition. Open to different improvisation and interpretation of music, Saxophone has not only jazz or blue but Global music around the world.