Forum of the Saxes

CMelodyMan · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject: Saxophones in orchestras?

I know that the F and C saxes were made to be in orchestras, but were any actually ever put into orchestras?

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Alto: Yanagisawa (880), Morgan 6M w/ Rico
C Melody: c.1919 Martin Inspiration
York soprano

altosaxgeek5 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:42 pm Post subject:

I don't think so... The F and C's never really caught on for the sax players... It's all about the 'flats, baby..
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Smile

Antigua Winds 520-LQ Alto Sax

JPSaxMan · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

Yea, gotta love them flats!

What's an F sax? Care to give me an education?
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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

altosaxgeek5 · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject:

Adolfe originally created the C Bass sax, and the first saxophones where in the keys of C (like piano) and F (like a French horn).
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Smile

Antigua Winds 520-LQ Alto Sax

JPSaxMan · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject:

Yea I knew of the C sax just never knew of the F sax...that's a first. Confused

I guess ya really do learn sumtin new everyday Exclamation

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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

tenorsax man · Guest

Ther was the Mezzo soprano in F, The Conn O Sax in F ( it looked like an English horn) and the C melody sax if I remember correctly

JPSaxMan · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:18 pm Post subject:

Cool. Got me an education on F saxes! Thanx! :D
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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

tenorsaxman · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Indiana

Actually even today there are sometimes saxes in orchestras. Some orchestral scores are even written with them as the soloist.
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Tenorsaxman!

Currently playing:
alto/tenor saxes
Bb clarinet (LeBlanc rocks!)
piccolo
flute
oboe
piano
organ( vintage Hammond M3)
electric/acoustic guitars
mandolin

tenorsaxman · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Indiana

I forgot to add that orchestras that have sax soloists only mainly use any Eb or Bb instruments. One pro orchestra I have heard of have a bass sax player that plays full time and they play great pieces in which he is the soloist. :D
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Tenorsaxman!

Currently playing:
alto/tenor saxes
Bb clarinet (LeBlanc rocks!)
piccolo
flute
oboe
piano
organ( vintage Hammond M3)
electric/acoustic guitars
mandolin

CMelodyMan · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:49 pm Post subject:

Which orchestras have you heard of that have a bass sax????
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Alto: Yanagisawa (880), Morgan 6M w/ Rico
C Melody: c.1919 Martin Inspiration
York soprano

altosaxgeek5 · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:03 pm Post subject:

Well... I unno who has a bass sax, but on Evening with the Pops, last night, it was a jazz feature, and they had a whole line of saxes.
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Smile

Antigua Winds 520-LQ Alto Sax

tenorsaxman · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 52 Location: Indiana

I think the orch w/ bass sax was on the Contrabass Compendium website under Bass sax some where in there
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Tenorsaxman!

Currently playing:
alto/tenor saxes
Bb clarinet (LeBlanc rocks!)
piccolo
flute
oboe
piano
organ( vintage Hammond M3)
electric/acoustic guitars
mandolin

Thomas · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 223 Location: Alberta, Canada

Yes, I have seen saxophones play in an orchestra. Having a sax as the soloist is more common, but I have also seen saxes as regular members of the ensemble. I went to a performance of Porgy and Bess a few months ago, and there were three altos in the orchestra. If anyone here knows who PJ Perry is, he was playing that night. Also, several pieces I'm working on are the sax solo part playing with an orchestra. So yes, it has been done - it's just not that common.
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Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.