138 !!Chapter 6
Saxophones
Although saxophones are not made of wood, they are considered wood-
winds. But they are also listed in their own category. They have plastic
mouthpieces with a single reed attached.
The saxophones used in contemporary music are soprano, alto, tenor,
baritone, bass, and contrabass. (The bass and contrabass saxophones are
rarely used except for specific purposes.)
Example 6-42 Saxophones: staff indicates where the parts are written for all saxophones.Saxophones are not considered a standard orchestral instrument. In
modern concert music, composers (e.g., Richard Strauss and Bizet) have
included saxophones in their scores. Chamber works and concertos have
been written for them. They have always been an intrinsic part of commer-
cial orchestras, bands, and jazz groups as well as concert and marching
bands. French composers have used saxophones extensively to create the
dominant sound in French band music.
The standard saxophone section consists of two altos, two tenors, and
a baritone. In unusual circumstances, the baritone player doubles with a
bass saxophone. The soprano saxophone has become a popular instru-
ment, especially in jazz (e.g., John Coltrane) and smooth jazz (e.g., Kenny
G).
The saxophone section has a beautiful blend. When the music is writ-
ten in close harmony, the section can sound like one instrument; few other
sections sound as cohesive. Another unique section sound results from
writing octaves and unisons. Parts can be written to be played at lightning
speed because professional saxophone players have extraordinary tech-
nique. This is partially attributed to the fact that saxophones are the easiest
of the woodwinds to produce a sound. Saxophones blend with almost any
section. They are especially rich sounding when played in the middle to
low octaves along with the strings. The baritone is often written in combi-
nation with the bass trombone and tuba. Most commercial saxophone
players also play clarinet and flute; some also play double reeds, such as
the oboe, English horn, and bassoon.
Range:All saxophones have the same written range and are fingered
in the same manner. Saxophones are built in various keys. They all have
the same written range: B-flat or B, below middle C, to E or F, above the
treble clef (see example 6-42).