The History of the Alto Saxophone
The alto saxophone was made by Adolphe Sax. Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant, Belgium on Nov. 6, 1814 and was the son of Charles, a maker of musical instruments. Adolphe had studied the clarinet and the flute, but was greatly influenced by his father to make his own instrument.
Who: Adolphe Sax who was the son of Charles Sax an instrument creater
What: Alto saxophone, the most popular saxophone which is a mid range saxophone
When: 1846
Why: Adolphe Sax realized that brasses were overpowering the woodwinds, and the winds were overpowering the strings so he decided that he needed to create a balance between the brass, woodwinds and strings.
Where: Belgium
How: Making an alto saxophone is a long and complicated process that can be viewed here.
The alto saxophone was made by Adolphe Sax. Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant, Belgium on Nov. 6, 1814 and was the son of Charles, a maker of musical instruments. Adolphe had studied the clarinet and the flute, but was greatly influenced by his father to make his own instrument.
Who: Adolphe Sax who was the son of Charles Sax an instrument creater
What: Alto saxophone, the most popular saxophone which is a mid range saxophone
When: 1846
Why: Adolphe Sax realized that brasses were overpowering the woodwinds, and the winds were overpowering the strings so he decided that he needed to create a balance between the brass, woodwinds and strings.
Where: Belgium
How: Making an alto saxophone is a long and complicated process that can be viewed here.
Timeline
1841- Adolphe Sax first showed his creation (a C bass saxophone) to the composer Hector Berlioz. The great composer was impressed by the uniqueness and versatility of the instrument.
1842- Adolphe Sax went to Paris. On June 12, Hector Berlioz published an article in the Paris magazine "Journal des Debats" describing the saxophone.
1844- Adolphe Sax reveals his creation to the public through the Paris Industrial Exhibition. On February 3 of that same year, Adolphe's good friend Hector Berlioz conducts a concert featuring his choral work. Hector's choral work
arrangement is called Chant Sacre and it featured the saxophone. In December, the saxophone had its orchestral debut at the Paris Conservatory through the opera "Last King of Juda" by Georges Kastner.
1845- French military bands during this time used oboes, bassoons, and french horns, but Adoplhe replaced
these with the Bb and Eb saxhorns.
1846- Adolphe Sax obtained patent for his +saxophones that had 14 variations. Among them are: E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass and F contrabass.
1847- On February 14 in Paris, a saxophone school was created. It was set up at "Gymnase Musical," a military band school.
1858- Adolphe Sax became a professor at the Paris Conservatory.
1866- The patent for the saxophone expired and the Millereau Co. patents the saxophone featuring a forked F# key.
1875- Goumas patented the saxophone with a fingering similar to the clarinet's Boehm system.
1881- Adolphe extends his original patent for the saxophone. He also made changes to the instrument such as lengthening the bell to include Bb and A and extending the instrument's range to F# and G using the fourth octave key.
1885- The first saxophone was built in the US by Gus Buesher.
1886- The saxophone underwent changes again, the right hand C trill key was devised and half-hole system for the first fingers of both hands.
1887- The predecessor of the articulated G# Evette and Schaeffer and tuning ring was invented by the Association Des Ouvriers.
1888- The single octave key for the saxophone was invented and rollers for low Eb and C was added.
1894- Adolphe Sax died. His son, Adolphe Edouard, took over the business.
1842- Adolphe Sax went to Paris. On June 12, Hector Berlioz published an article in the Paris magazine "Journal des Debats" describing the saxophone.
1844- Adolphe Sax reveals his creation to the public through the Paris Industrial Exhibition. On February 3 of that same year, Adolphe's good friend Hector Berlioz conducts a concert featuring his choral work. Hector's choral work
arrangement is called Chant Sacre and it featured the saxophone. In December, the saxophone had its orchestral debut at the Paris Conservatory through the opera "Last King of Juda" by Georges Kastner.
1845- French military bands during this time used oboes, bassoons, and french horns, but Adoplhe replaced
these with the Bb and Eb saxhorns.
1846- Adolphe Sax obtained patent for his +saxophones that had 14 variations. Among them are: E flat sopranino, F sopranino, B flat soprano, C soprano, E flat alto, F alto, B flat tenor, C tenor, E flat baritone, B flat bass, C bass, E flat contrabass and F contrabass.
1847- On February 14 in Paris, a saxophone school was created. It was set up at "Gymnase Musical," a military band school.
1858- Adolphe Sax became a professor at the Paris Conservatory.
1866- The patent for the saxophone expired and the Millereau Co. patents the saxophone featuring a forked F# key.
1875- Goumas patented the saxophone with a fingering similar to the clarinet's Boehm system.
1881- Adolphe extends his original patent for the saxophone. He also made changes to the instrument such as lengthening the bell to include Bb and A and extending the instrument's range to F# and G using the fourth octave key.
1885- The first saxophone was built in the US by Gus Buesher.
1886- The saxophone underwent changes again, the right hand C trill key was devised and half-hole system for the first fingers of both hands.
1887- The predecessor of the articulated G# Evette and Schaeffer and tuning ring was invented by the Association Des Ouvriers.
1888- The single octave key for the saxophone was invented and rollers for low Eb and C was added.
1894- Adolphe Sax died. His son, Adolphe Edouard, took over the business.