Contrabass saxophone
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- Soprillo
- Sopraninosaxophon
- Soprano Saxophone
- Alto Saxophone
- C -Melody Saxophone
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
The contrabass saxophone is one of the deepest instruments of the saxophone family. It is very large ( twice the length of pipe and double pipe diameter compared to the baritone saxophone, 1.9 m high) and heavy ( about 20 kg). It is tuned in Eb, one octave below the baritone saxophone.
History
The bass saxophone was part of the original, planned by Adolphe Sax saxophone family and was involved in his saxophone patent of 1846. Until 1849 Sax Saxophone led by the bass saxophone before until Sopraninosaxophon at exhibitions. The first known use of the orchestra was in Jules Massenet's opera La Vierge of 1879 and Hérodiade of 1881. Patrick Gilmore used 1892 in his band a bass saxophone and Evette - Schaeffer was the early 1920s, at least a dozen bass saxophones for American military bands produced. Saxophone ensembles were popular at that time and the bass saxophone was an eye-catching novelty for the groups that were able to obtain one. With the onset of the Great Depression ended after the high demand saxophones and bass saxophone disappeared from the public eye.
Modern instruments
In recent years, there was again a resurgence of demand for contrabass saxophones. In small numbers three manufacturers produce again contrabass saxophones: Benedict Eppelsheim in Munich Romeo Orsi in Milan and J'Elle Stainer in São Paulo, Brazil.
Sound and use
The sound of the bass saxophone is strongly influenced by player, mouthpiece and reeds dependent. In the middle and upper registers it sounds warm, full and expressive. Since the deepest tones vibrate very slowly (like, for example, the contrabassoon ), it may be difficult for listeners to perceive individual sounds in the lower part of the gamut, rather than a melody is a series of rattling sounds that are hard to assign a certain pitch perceived. If these tones but played in a higher octave simultaneously with another instrument, the tones can again perceive clearly and have a huge presence on. In some groups the contrabass saxophone plays the same voice as the baritone saxophone, either in the same octave or an octave lower.
Although there are few orchestral works for contrabass saxophone, the increasing number of bass saxophonist led to a growing number of works. It is particularly effective basis for saxophone ensembles. For example, played the significant saxophonist Sigurd Rascher (1907-2001) the instrument in his saxophone ensemble and it is represented on most albums of the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra. Some modern works for orchestra with bass saxophone were written by Adam Gilberti.
Player
The bass saxophone was used mostly as a solo instrument in the field of jazz and improvised music to create a unique sound. Size and weight make it difficult playing bass saxophones. In older instruments, this is made even more difficult by the high air consumption. Thanks to the improvements over time modern contrabass saxophones are but little harder to play than other saxophones.
The number of players is growing, including the contrabass saxophone is used by Anthony Braxton, Paul Cohen, David brutti, Jay C. Easton, Randy Emerick, Blaise Garza, Marcel W. Helland, Robert J. Verdi, Joseph Donald Baker, Thomas K. J. Mejer, Scott Robinson, Klaas Hekman, Daniel Gordon, Daniel Kientzy and Todd A. White. It is also used in some ensembles, including the Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra Lörrach and the Cologne Saxophone Mafia.