Forum of the Saxes

altosax4ever · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:28 am Post subject: C Melody?

I know this may be an already asked question, but I was hoping someone (CmelodyMan perhaps?) could answer it. How much like an alto does a c melody sound like? Is it worth buying and playing, becuase it seems like it would be easier, with no transposing to do. What do they look like, sound like, cost, etc?

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Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

CMelodyMan · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:21 am Post subject:

The C melody saxophone is a sax in the key of C, one step above the Bb tenor saxophone. The C melody saxophone was part of the series of saxophones pitched in C and F, intended by Adolphe Sax for orchestral use. It is no longer produced, the series in B-flat and E-flat (intended by Sax for use in military bands and wind ensembles) being the obvious winner. I think (although I have not verified this) that in the 1960s Vito tried to revive the C Melody sax production...As you csan tell by it's pitch (C) it is half way between alto and tenor.

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

Yani-992 · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 20 Location: singapore

Does it sound the same as an Eb sax?