Alto Saxophone is a wind musical instrument. It was created in 1842. It was developed by Adolf Sachs - a master of musical affairs from Belgium. It is smaller than the tenor saxophone. It is considered the most popular in its family. Widely used in jazz and classical compositions.
History
The year 1840 is considered the date of the creation of the saxophone. Sachs is a Belgian craftsman who designed the instrument, which subsequently served as a replacement for the bulky copper ophicle. In 1841, he created a serpentine metal structure with a special valve system shown at a special exhibition. An important element of the new development was a special mouthpiece for alto saxophone. 1844 is famous for the first participation of a musical instrument together with other winds in the composition, which was conducted by
Hector Berlioz. In December 1844, became the first part of the opera orchestra. In 1845, the alto saxophone finds application in the military orchestra of Paris. In the years 1870-1871. the outbreak of the war caused a decrease in interest in this musical instrument. At the beginning of the XX century, our hero again begins to gain popularity, and a new stage in its development is achieved. Saxophone today, in the current jazz, is a leading instrument, and gives a deeper sound to classical compositions.
Design
Saxophone-alt consists of three main parts - it is eska, body and bell. Let's consider them in more detail. The mouthpiece is fixed on the esque. The structural features of this element depend on the musical direction for which the named instrument will be used. Saxophone canes are attached to the mouthpiece using ligatures and serve as sound-generating elements. The size of these elements may vary depending on the type of saxophone. The cane is protected from damage by a special protective cap.
Sound
If you write notes for alto saxophone, remember that its structure is in E flat. This instrument is transposing. Thus, there is a discrepancy between the notes performed and written. We give an example. If you play notes for alto saxophone, the sound of up corresponds to E flat. The range consists of such registers: high, medium, low. Each has its own characteristics. The sounds that the instrument makes in the middle register are similar to the voice of a person. By enhancing the dynamics, the musician can achieve a much more expressive sound, which borders on drama. The piercing of the
upper register creates a feeling of tension, which is not without its brilliance and internal extravaganza. Hue can vary from mezzo forte to loud. On the upper register, a musical instrument generates flashy sounds, you can hear them only in special dynamics. The music created by our hero is incredibly bright and expressive. He is sometimes able to give the composition the necessary tension, in harmony with other sounds coming from other instruments of the orchestra.
Famous musicians
Among the jazz representatives who chose this instrument, Paul Desmond, John Zorn, Phil Woods, Anthony Braxton, David Sanborn, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Dorsey, Kenny Garrett, Charlie Parker deserved worldwide fame. In the society of classical performers, our hero is also popular. In particular, he was given preference: Eugene Russo, Otis Murphy, Arno Bornkamp, Kenneth Tse, Jean-Marie Londe, Larry Thiel, Donald Sinta, Frederick Hemke, Lawrence Gwodz, Jean-Yves Furmo, Sigurd Rasher, Marcel Mul. This instrument is used in orchestral and jazz music. A large number of classical concerts have been created for him. We will talk more about this in the next section.
Through the centuries
Alto Saxophone has a huge classical repertoire, which includes solo with piano and orchestra. The most famous are the works of Alexander Glazunov and Jacques Iber. It was also used in his work by Georges Bizet.
Richard Strauss added a part for 4 saxophones to his Domestica symphony, among them there is an alto. In his suites, Dmitry Shostakovich also turned to our hero for help. Sergei Rachmaninov included the alto saxophone in Symphonic Dances. Alban Berg also paid great attention to this instrument, in particular in later orchestral compositions. These include the opera Lulu and the Violin Concerto. In some works by George Gershwin, this musical instrument sounds especially bright and organic. Today, in the creation of saxophones, the main positions are reserved for several companies. In particular, KHS / Jupiter, Amati, Yanagisawa, Selmer Paris, Cannonball, Keilwerth, Yamaha, Conn-Selmer, Buffet Crampon. Now you know
what is saxophone alt and what are its features. When choosing a musical instrument, do not buy the most affordable one, however, there is no point in spending money on a professional one, especially if you have not yet mastered the basics of handling it. You can choose a saxophone made of hard rubber or plastic.