The Saxophone in Jazz Music Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Saxophone in Jazz Music - Research Paper Example The invention of the saxophone is credited to a Belgian by the name, Antoine-Joseph Sax. Adolphe was born on 6th November 1814 and gained interest in musical interest from his father Charles. Adolphe’s father was a professional craftsman of musical instruments. To this end, Adolphe became an expert craftsman of musical instruments when he was just six years old. Some of his notable specimens included clarinets and flutes. Moreover, he devoted more time to studying these two instruments at the Brussels Conservatory. As a result, Adolphe noticed that there was a difference in tone between woodwinds and brasses. Evidently, he discovered that woodwinds were being overpowered by the brasses. Moreover, he equally noted tonal differences between the winds and strings whereby the latter was overpowered by the former. Consequently, Sax identified the need to invent a new instrument that achieved some semblance of balance between the strings, brass, and woodwinds. He envisioned a sound that combined the brass tone from the trumpet and the woodwind sound from the clarinet. As a result, Adolphe innovatively incorporated the mouthpiece from the woodwind and the structural form of the brass instrument. The end product was the saxophone.To this end, the pioneer saxophone was a C bass which Sax displayed to the prominently renowned composer, Hector Berlioz in 1841. Berlioz was mesmerized by the versatility, dynamic control and unique tone of the saxophone. As a result, in 1842, Adolphe migrated to Paris to publicize his saxophone.... Consequently, Sax identified the need to invent a new instrument that achieved some semblance of balance between the strings, brass and woodwinds. He envisioned a sound that combined the brass tone from the trumpet and the woodwind sound from the clarinet. As a result, Adolphe innovatively incorporated the mouth piece from the woodwind and the structural form of the brass instrument. The end product was the saxophone. To this end, the pioneer saxophone was a C bass which Sax displayed to the prominently renowned composer, Hector Belioz in 1841(Koenig 295). Belioz was mesmerized by the versatility, dynamic control and unique tone of the saxophone. As a result, in 1842, Adolphe migrated to Paris to publicize his saxophone. At around the same time, an article entitled ‘Journal des Debats’ was published by Hector Belioz. The article described Adolf’s innovative saxophone in depth. Consequently, by 1846 Adolphe Sax was officially recognized as the owner of the saxophon e when it was exhibited in public during the Paris Industrial Exhibition. Moreover, in 1844 a concert organized by Hector Belioz and known as the Chante Sacre featured the saxophone for the first time. However, it was the opera of the ‘Last King of Juda’ that marked the orchestral debut of the saxophone. Apparently, Adolphe proposed a contest between bands. The contest pitted his army band composed of saxophones against another one that was composed of traditional instruments. Evidently, Adolphe’s band carried the day and hence proved that saxophones had the capacity to improve the quality of tone in all the bands. By 1845, the B and E flat saxophones replaced the French horns, oboes and bassoons that were used in French military