Musical Instrument - Saxophone

 

                                   Saxophone

               A saxophone features a conical metal  (originally brass) tube with about 24 openings controlled by padded keys; the mouthpiece is analogous thereto of a clarinet. Two octave key vents allow the instrument to overblow to a better register at the octave. Except for the sopranino and one form of the B♭ soprano saxophone, built straight like a clarinet, saxophones have an upturned lower end and a detachable crook, or neck, at the upper end.

                The normal compass originally extended from B (B below middle C) to f‴ (the third F above middle C), but it soon was expanded downward one semitone to incorporate B♭. The compass of the foremost commonly used members of the saxophone family has been further increased: the alto and tenor can sound one semitone above f‴, and the baritone can sound one half step below B♭. The compass is pitched differently for every member of the family: the B♭ soprano, a tone less than written; the E♭ alto, a sixth lower; the B♭ tenor (made with an undulating crook), a ninth lower; the E♭ baritone (with a looped crook), an octave below the alto; and therefore the B♭ bass (similar in shape to the baritone), an octave below the tenor. Rare forms, representing the acute ranges of the instrument, include the sopranino, contrabass, and subcontrabass saxophones. All of the common forms were originally pitched in C or in F; the C melody saxophone, a tenor in C, is occasionally used for enjoying songs without transposition.

               The saxophone has great flexibility, blending well with both brasses and woodwinds. It is not widely used as a concert instrument but is sort of prominent in jazz, during which it's a principal vehicle for melodic improvisation. Among the best jazz saxophonists are Lester Young, Hawkins , Parker , Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, and John Coltrane.