The Saxophones |
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| Although made of metal, the saxophone belongs to the woodwind family (and not the brass family, as is commonly misunderstood) because it uses a wooden reed. As with the clarinet, it is the vibration of the reed on the plastic mouthpiece that creates the sound. In addition, it tends to be closer to the sound of the strings, making it the missing link that bridges the woodwinds and brass instruments in a symphonic band. The most common saxophones are the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone, which make up the quartet of saxophones. The instrument was a late invention (in 1841) by the Belgian inventor Adolphe SAX, who wanted to create an instrument that would both be the loudest of the woodwinds and the most versatile of the brass. Although the saxophone has a relatively marginal place in classical music, it is undoubtedly the king of jazz instruments. |
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