CMelodyMan
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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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altosaxgeek5
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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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JPSaxMan
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Yea, gotta love them flats!
What's an F sax? Care to give me an education?
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altosaxgeek5
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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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JPSaxMan
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Yea I knew of the C sax just never knew of the F sax...that's a first.  I guess ya really do learn sumtin new everyday 
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tenorsax man
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C and F saxesTher 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
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JPSaxMan
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Cool. Got me an education on F saxes! Thanx! :D
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tenorsaxman
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orchestral saxesActually even today there are sometimes saxes in orchestras. Some orchestral scores are even written with them as the soloist.
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tenorsaxman
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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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CMelodyMan
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Which orchestras have you heard of that have a bass sax????
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altosaxgeek5
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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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tenorsaxman
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I think the orch w/ bass sax was on the Contrabass Compendium website under Bass sax some where in there
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Thomas
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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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Steve P
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Actually, the C bass was invented first, and then Bb and Eb saxes... F and C variants came in the mid-late 1800's.
I have an F-mezzo thats looks the same as it did the day it was made. Beautiful looking, and playing, horn.
Steve P
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