The History of the Saxophone

1
The History of the Saxophone

• 9th Grade Music Appreciation
• Ms. Niederkorn
• 12-7-04

2
Introduction

• The saxophone is one of the youngest
  instruments.
  
• Having a wide range of musical abilities and
  functions, the saxophone can be used for
  classical, jazz, and many solo works.

3
Introduction (contd)

• Composers such as Paul Creston, Eugene Bozza,
  Yvonne Bourrel, and Marc Eychenne have all
  written solo works for the classical saxophone.
  
• Additionally, the saxophone is virtually
  synonymous with jazz music.
  
• There are also four different types of
  saxophone.
  

4
Introduction (contd)

5
The Birth of the Saxophone Adolph Sax

• Wanting to incorporate the concept of brass and
  woodwind, Adolph Sax invented and patents the
  saxophone in 1940.
  
• Adolph had already taken interest in improving
  keys and construction on the bass clarinet, so
  the invention of the saxophone was the next
  level.

6
The Birth of the Saxophone Introduction European
Society

• The invention of the saxophone was unknown until
  1842 when Hector Berlioz wrote an article in the
  Paris magazine Journal des Debats.
  
• Additionally in 1844, Berlioz arranges a choral
  work, Chant Sacre which includes the saxophone.
  
• Later that year, the saxophone makes its
  orchestral debut in Last King of Juda at the
  Paris Conservatory.

7
The Birth of the Saxophone Introduction to
European Society (contd)

• Adolph Sax then introduces the saxophone to
  military bands, replacing oboes, french horns,
  and bassoons, creating a new trend for military
  bands.

8
The Saxophone Patent

• Once Adolph Saxs patent expired, many other
  companies sought to make changes to the
  companies.
  
• Companies such as Millereau and Co. added and
  patented the forked f key, Gautrot, and the
  Pierre Louis and Co. develops a screw in pad
  system.
• The most significant improvement on the saxophone
  was Goumass introduction of the Boehm fingering
  system, generally used for the clarinet. Goumass
  version slightly differed from the clarinets.

9
The Sax in America

• In 1885, the first saxophone is built by Gus
  Buescher, using Adolph Saxs patent.
  
• As soon as the saxophone began circling the
  United States, more pieces solo, and orchestra
  works were commissioned for the saxophone by
  DeBussy, dIndy, Strauss, and Sprok.
• Methods books such as Paul Devilles Universal
  Method, and works by Mule and Ferling.
  

10
Jazz Music and the Saxophone

• With the introduction of saxophone into American
  repertoire, the saxophone became a vital part of
  Jazz music
  
• Jazz Saxophonists used the ideas of classical
  saxophone, and meshed them with the new sounds of
  jazz erupting in the early 1900s to create a
  unique sound beyond any other.

11
Jazz Music and the Sax

• The with new innovative music the saxophone
  needed improvement. One of the most prominent
  saxophones built was the Selmer Mark VI developed
  in 1954.
• It was essential for jazz and classical
  performance.

12
Jazz Music and the Sax

• Many new jazz performers arose through the jazz
  era of the sax.
  
• Some of these musicians included, Charlie Parker,
  John Coltrane, Lester Young, Stan Getz, and Sonny
  Rollins.
  

13
The Saxophone Presently

• Pioneers such as Eugene Rousseau have advanced
  the art of the saxophone using the works created
  since the development of the saxophone and jazz.

14
The Saxophone Presently

• The saxophone additionally, is still being
  crafted to fit the performers needs by such
  companies as Yamaha, and Selmer.

15
Final

• Being only about 150 years old, the saxophone is
  still a growing instrument with possibly new
  innovations to come.