Slim Essay, Research Paper

The saxophone invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian instrument maker in the early 1840 s. It was actually patented in 1846. The saxophone is mainly a band instrument. It is rarely used in orchestral works. Most orchestral works it appears in are composed by French composers The main use of the saxophone is in concert and military bands. The saxophone also is used heavily in Jazz bands the four most common saxophones are the Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone saxes. The complete moderen saxophone family has seven members. There are several other rare saxophones as well. The main members of the family are the Eb Sopranino, Bb Soprano, Eb Alto, Bb Tenor, Eb Baritone, Bb Bass, and Eb Contrabass. The two extremes are very rare, but can still be made. At one time saxophones were being made in the keys of F and C, rather than Eb and Bb. The rare saxophones are the ones found in these keys. It is still sort of

easy to find C Tenors and Sopranos. The Soprano saxophone doesn t have much history, but what I found out is that this instrument is mainly used in Jazz. The only musicians I have known to to play the soprano saxophone are Kenny G, Grover Washington, Jr., and Bradford Marsalis. This saxophone has the highest pitch. The Alto saxophone is to my knowledge the most widely used saxophone it is Used mostly in military, jazz, and marching bands. The Alto saxophone is the instrument is usually the sax that everyone begins on. The Tenor saxophone is similar to the Alto saxophone because it is also used mostly in jazz and military band. It is widely used in Jazz because of its deep tones. The Bari saxophone is to my knowledge only accepted in jazz. I have only heard a bari sax a couple times. The Bass saxophone I have no knowledge of , but it costs about $12,750.00