Letsallwrite’s Weblog

I am a conical-bored musical instrument and am considered a member of the woodwind family. I am usually made of brass and I am played with a single- reed mouthpiece. My cousin is the clarinet. I was invented in the 1840’s by Adolphe Sax. My main purpose was to perform in the military bands, but later I gravitated to jazz. Hello, I am the saxophone.

 Adolphe Sax was a musical instrument designer and a musician. He played the clarinet, but he is best known for inventing the saxophone. He inherited his passion for designing musical instruments from his father. Sax started designing instruments at an early age in life. The saxophone was intended to form a tonal link between a clarinets and brass instruments. Although he did not end his career successfully, he made a major contribution for future musicians. 

The saxophone consists of three different sizes. The alto saxophone is the average size of the saxophones, and it is most commonly used for classical compositions. Because of its prevalence, the alto saxophone is the common choice for beginners.   

The simplest design of saxophone is  the soprano saxophone. It is shaped like a straight conical tube. The soprano sax penetrates a high pitch sound. It is the smallest of the three saxophones. A more experience saxophonist will play the soprano sax because of alternate fingerings or vary breathing. It sometimes can be used as a substitute for an oboe. 

The tenor is the second most commonly used saxophone. It uses a larger mouthpiece, reed, and ligature compared to the alto. The tenor sax is played in many different ensembles such as, concert bands, marching bands, big bands jazz ensembles, and symphony orchestras. The tenor sax is made similar to the soprano sax, but with a different sound.

 Music lovers can appreciate the sound behind the voice of the singer or rapper. It would be hard to dissect the different instruments in the music. But a lot of the instruments are coherent such as the piano, drums, and the sax. If I was to play an instrument it would be the saxophone. The sound it produces is gratifying. I know a plethora of people who knows how to play the piano, drums or guitar, but not the saxophone.

 Jazz was a new sound in America and it needed instruments to help compliment it. Among those instruments was the saxophone. The sax was altered many times before it produced the sound that satisfied all that heard. The sax has been effectively used in jazz bands and popular dance orchestras. Its smooth and sensual sound helped renovate the minds and souls of individuals.

 Whatever your favorite instrument might be just know behind every instrument there is a rich history that helped shape music today. Yeah, the saxophone started off as a military instrument, but later it became a jazz instrument. Jazz led to Blues. Blues led to Rhythm and Blues. Rhythm and Blues led to Rap. Therefore there is a direct correlation between the purpose of music instruments and music it self.