Page 3 - Info Magazine nr 15 JANUARY 2021

History of wind instruments: The Saxophone

The saxophone is only a few instruments in wide use today known
to be invented by a single individual. His name is Adolphe Sax: that is
why it is called the saxophone. History tells us that Adolphe Sax (1814
- 1894) was a musical instrument designer born in Belgium who could
play many wind instruments. His idea was to create an instrument that
combined the best qualities of a woodwind instrument with the best
qualities of a brass instrument, and in the 1840s he conceived the
saxophone. This invention was patented in Paris in 1846. More about
Adolphe Sax on page 5.

Originally there were 14 members of the saxopho-
ne family. In fact, Adolphe Sax conceived of an or-
chestra 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.

The saxophone has al ways been made of brass
since it was first invented.
Because of the principles by which it produces
sound, however, it is classified as a woodwind,
much like the clarinet and flute.

Though the saxophone is made of metal, it generates sound with a single reed, and so it is clas-
sified as a woodwind rather than as a brass instrument. Be that as it may, the original goal of the
inventor was said to be to bridge the gap between the brass and the woodwinds, to blend the
divergent tones of the two groups in wind-instrument music, to reinforce the lower range of the
woodwinds, and to create a tonal balance. The saxophone, in fact, blends in well with both brass
and woodwinds, and is now heavily relied upon to firm up the tone of the band and give it a rich
voice and charm.
The dynamic range of the saxophone is the widest of all the woodwinds. It has tonal qualities
very close to those of the human voice, and it is capable of a wide range of expression, so it is no
wonder that it features prominently in the history of jazz music as a solo instrument. In classical
music as well, it enjoys a robust repertoire, particularly from French composers, and it is used in
a wide range of instrumental groupings, including chamber music, orchestra, and even as a solo
instrument.