The saxhorn is a family of valved brass instruments that have conical bores and deep cup-shaped mouthpieces. The saxhorn family was developed by Adolphe Sax, who is also known for creating the saxophone family. The sound of the saxhorn has a characteristic mellow tone quality and blends well with other brass.
A catalogue showing various Adolphe Sax instruments, including saxhorns, saxophones, and saxotrombas.
The saxhorns form a family of seven brass instruments (although at one point ten different sizes seem to have existed). Designed for band use, they are pitched alternately in E♭ and B♭, like the saxophone group.
The B♭ bass, E♭ bass, and B♭ contrabass saxhorns are basically the same as the modern euphonium, E♭ bass tuba, and BB♭ contrabass tuba, respectively.
Historically, much confusion exists as to the nomenclature of the various instruments in different languages.
The following table lists the members of the saxhorn family as described in the orchestration texts of Hector Berlioz and Cecil Forsyth, the J. Howard Foote catalog of 1893, and modern names. The modern instrument names continue to exhibit inconsistency, denoted by a "/" between the two names in use. In the table "Pitch" means the concert pitch of notational Middle C on each instrument (2nd partial, no valves depressed) in scientific pitch notation.
Foote
Berlioz
Forsyth
Modern
Pitch
---
Sopranino in C/B♭
---
C5/B♭4
Soprano in E♭
Sopranino in E♭
Sopranino/Soprano in E♭
---
E♭4
Alto in B♭
Soprano in B♭
Soprano/Alto in B♭
flugelhorn
B♭3
Alto in E♭
Tenor in E♭
Alto in E♭
Alto/Tenor in E♭
alto/tenor horn
E♭3
Tenor in B♭
Baritone in B♭
Tenor in B♭
Tenor/Baritone in B♭
baritone horn
B♭2
Baritone in B♭
Bass in B♭
Bass in B♭
Baritone/Bass in B♭
euphonium
Bass in E♭
Contrabass in E♭
Bass in E♭
Bass in E♭
E♭ bass tuba
E♭2
---
Contrabass in B♭
Contrabass in B♭
Contrabass in B♭
BB♭ contrabass tuba
B♭1
Contrabass in E♭
Contrabass in low E♭
---
E♭1
---
Bourdon in B♭
B♭0
This list is not exhaustive of historic nomenclature for the saxhorns, for which there may exist no comprehensive and authoritative source.
Ranges of individual membersEdit
The saxhorn is based on the same three-valve system as most other valved brass instruments. Each member of the family is named after the root note produced by the second partial with no valves actuated. Each member nominally possesses or possessed the typical three-valve brass range from the note one tritone below that root note (second partial, all valves actuated) to the note produced by eighth partial with no valves actuated, i.e., the note two octaves above the root note.
All the modern members of the family are transposing instruments written in the treble clef with the root note produced by the second partial with no valves actuated being written as middle C, though the baritone horn often plays bass clef parts, especially in concert band music and when playing parts written for the trombone.
HistoryEdit
Developed during the mid-to-late 1830s, the saxhorn family was patented in Paris in 1845 by Adolphe Sax. During the 19th century, the debate as to whether the saxhorn family was truly new, or rather a development of previously existing instruments, was the subject of prolonged lawsuits.[2]
Throughout the mid-1850s, Sax continued to experiment with the instrument's valve pattern.
The Trojan March (Marche Troyenne) of the Berlioz opera Les Troyens (1856–58) features an on-stage band which includes a family of saxhorns. The Royal Hunt and Storm (Chasse Royale) from the same opera uses them orchestrally. Sir John Eliot Gardiner wanted to use them in his 2003 recording, but was unable to borrow them from major conservatoires; he was eventually put in touch with a private collector who loaned him a set.[3]
Saxhorns were popularized by the distinguished Distin Quintet, who toured Europe during the mid-19th century. This family of musicians, publishers and instrument manufacturers had a significant impact on the growth of the brass band movement in Britain during the mid- to late-19th century.
The saxhorn was the most common brass instrument in American Civil War bands. The over-the-shoulder variety of the instrument was used, as the backward-pointing bell of the instrument allowed troops marching behind the band to hear the music.
Saxhorn used by the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. The backward-facing bell version became the most common brass instrument in Civil War bands so that troops marching behind the band could hear the music. From the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.
Band of 10th Veteran Reserve Corps, Washington, D.C., April, 1865
Unidentified soldier of Co. H, 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment in uniform with over the shoulder saxhorn
^"Greg's Brass History Page – Flugelhorn History". Alsmiddlebrasspages.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
^The British Brass Band : A Musical and Social History. Oxford University Press. 2000. p. 169. ISBN0-19-816698-2.
^Pullinger, Mark (19 February 2019). "Berlioz 150: Sir John Eliot Gardiner on Les Troyens and Benvenuto Cellini". bachtrack.com. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
J. Howard Foote catalog, 1893
Berlioz, Hector (1948). Treatise on Instrumentation. Edwin F. Kalmus.
saxhorn, anti, tank, missile, saxhorn, family, valved, brass, instruments, that, have, conical, bores, deep, shaped, mouthpieces, saxhorn, family, developed, adolphe, also, known, creating, saxophone, family, sound, saxhorn, characteristic, mellow, tone, quali. For the anti tank missile see AT 7 Saxhorn The saxhorn is a family of valved brass instruments that have conical bores and deep cup shaped mouthpieces The saxhorn family was developed by Adolphe Sax who is also known for creating the saxophone family The sound of the saxhorn has a characteristic mellow tone quality and blends well with other brass SaxhornA modern 5 valved bass saxhorn Brass instrumentClassificationWindBrassAerophoneHornbostel Sachs classification423 232 Valved aerophone sounded by lip vibration DevelopedMid 19th century by Adolphe SaxPlaying rangeAs written in treble clef for three valved instruments Instruments with four or more valves can play to low C marked V Related instrumentsModern saxhorns FlugelhornAlto hornBaritone horn Other instruments CornetMellophoneEuphoniumTuba Contents 1 The saxhorn family 1 1 Ranges of individual members 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 Discography 6 External linksThe saxhorn family Edit nbsp A catalogue showing various Adolphe Sax instruments including saxhorns saxophones and saxotrombas The saxhorns form a family of seven brass instruments although at one point ten different sizes seem to have existed Designed for band use they are pitched alternately in E and B like the saxophone group Modern saxhorns still manufactured and in use B soprano saxhorn flugelhorn 1 E alto tenor saxhorn alto tenor horn B baritone saxhorn baritone horn The B bass E bass and B contrabass saxhorns are basically the same as the modern euphonium E bass tuba and BB contrabass tuba respectively Historically much confusion exists as to the nomenclature of the various instruments in different languages The following table lists the members of the saxhorn family as described in the orchestration texts of Hector Berlioz and Cecil Forsyth the J Howard Foote catalog of 1893 and modern names The modern instrument names continue to exhibit inconsistency denoted by a between the two names in use In the table Pitch means the concert pitch of notational Middle C on each instrument 2nd partial no valves depressed in scientific pitch notation Foote Berlioz Forsyth Modern Pitch Sopranino in C B C5 B 4Soprano in E Sopranino in E Sopranino Soprano in E E 4Alto in B Soprano in B Soprano Alto in B flugelhorn B 3Alto in E Tenor in E Alto in E Alto Tenor in E alto tenor horn E 3Tenor in B Baritone in B Tenor in B Tenor Baritone in B baritone horn B 2Baritone in B Bass in B Bass in B Baritone Bass in B euphoniumBass in E Contrabass in E Bass in E Bass in E E bass tuba E 2 Contrabass in B Contrabass in B Contrabass in B BB contrabass tuba B 1Contrabass in E Contrabass in low E E 1 Bourdon in B B 0This list is not exhaustive of historic nomenclature for the saxhorns for which there may exist no comprehensive and authoritative source Ranges of individual members Edit The saxhorn is based on the same three valve system as most other valved brass instruments Each member of the family is named after the root note produced by the second partial with no valves actuated Each member nominally possesses or possessed the typical three valve brass range from the note one tritone below that root note second partial all valves actuated to the note produced by eighth partial with no valves actuated i e the note two octaves above the root note All the modern members of the family are transposing instruments written in the treble clef with the root note produced by the second partial with no valves actuated being written as middle C though the baritone horn often plays bass clef parts especially in concert band music and when playing parts written for the trombone History EditDeveloped during the mid to late 1830s the saxhorn family was patented in Paris in 1845 by Adolphe Sax During the 19th century the debate as to whether the saxhorn family was truly new or rather a development of previously existing instruments was the subject of prolonged lawsuits 2 Throughout the mid 1850s Sax continued to experiment with the instrument s valve pattern The Trojan March Marche Troyenne of the Berlioz opera Les Troyens 1856 58 features an on stage band which includes a family of saxhorns The Royal Hunt and Storm Chasse Royale from the same opera uses them orchestrally Sir John Eliot Gardiner wanted to use them in his 2003 recording but was unable to borrow them from major conservatoires he was eventually put in touch with a private collector who loaned him a set 3 Saxhorns were popularized by the distinguished Distin Quintet who toured Europe during the mid 19th century This family of musicians publishers and instrument manufacturers had a significant impact on the growth of the brass band movement in Britain during the mid to late 19th century The saxhorn was the most common brass instrument in American Civil War bands The over the shoulder variety of the instrument was used as the backward pointing bell of the instrument allowed troops marching behind the band to hear the music Contemporary works featuring this instrument are Desire Dondeyne s Tubissimo for bass tuba or saxhorn and piano 1983 Olivier Messiaen s Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum 1964 and Dmitri Shostakovich s March of the Soviet Militia 1970 Historical saxhorns nbsp Saxhorn used by the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War The backward facing bell version became the most common brass instrument in Civil War bands so that troops marching behind the band could hear the music From the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society nbsp Band of 10th Veteran Reserve Corps Washington D C April 1865 nbsp Unidentified soldier of Co H 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment in uniform with over the shoulder saxhornSee also EditAlto horn Baritone horn Flugelhorn Euphonium SudrophoneReferences Edit Greg s Brass History Page Flugelhorn History Alsmiddlebrasspages com Retrieved 2018 03 13 The British Brass Band A Musical and Social History Oxford University Press 2000 p 169 ISBN 0 19 816698 2 Pullinger Mark 19 February 2019 Berlioz 150 Sir John Eliot Gardiner on Les Troyens and Benvenuto Cellini bachtrack com Retrieved 8 July 2021 J Howard Foote catalog 1893 Berlioz Hector 1948 Treatise on Instrumentation Edwin F Kalmus Forsyth Cecil 1982 Orchestration New York Dover Publications ISBN 0 486 24383 4 Jachino Carlo 1978 Gli strumenti d orchestra Milano Edizioni Curci Discography EditSaxhorn et piano Hybrid Music Label October 2008 David Maillot saxhorn Geraldine Dutroncy piano Works by Eugene Bozza Marcel Bitsch Jacques Casterede Alain Bernaud Henri Tomasi Claude Pascal Gerard Devos and Roger Boutry 14 Volumes of saxhorn band are available featuring The First Brigade Band External links EditDodworth Saxhorn Band Greg s Brass History Page First Brigade Band Galpin Society list of extant Adolphe Sax instruments Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Saxhorn Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saxhorn amp oldid 1164806031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
