Adolphe Sax and the Saxophone

By Adam Yamda-Hanff

Why I am doing this presentation

● I play Alto Saxophone● I've played for about 15 years (not

all those years are “good” playing years)

● Performed at Lincoln Center in NYC on TV – ayh.me/press

● I have two Singing Dogs, that sing to the saxophone

● Adolphe Sax's birthday 200th birthday was this past November

● The saxophone is the coolest instrument :)

The Devil's Horn – From Noisy Novelty to the King of CoolThe Story of the Saxophone

By Michael Segell

● Info taken from book “The Devil's Horn”● Excellent book about Saxophone history● Well written and lots of information● Hardcover (pic) not currently in print. ● Paperback is in print (different cover)● Can order through, Alibris,IndieBound, etc.● Available on Kindle (ebook) – Amazon● Order here - http://ayh.me/adh

“It stands on the margin of the orchestra, on the edge of polite society, on the fringe of serious music... It stands opposed to the institution, just like the man who invented it” - Jean-Marie Londiex, saxophone historian& musician

Stan Getz – Tenor saxophone

Adolphe Sax, the man who started it all!

● Born in Dinat, Belgium● Birthday is November 6th, 1814● Died February 7th, 1894 in Paris, at 79● Was known as “Le Petit Sax, le revenant” which means The Ghost-Child in English to

Dinat villagers. ● As a child he got into numerous weird accidents. Adophle sax; smashed his head and

was in a coma for a week, drank zinc mistaking it for milk, poisonings (lead, copper oxide, arsenic) swallowed a needle, slate fell on his head, almost drowned, etc.

● One side of his body he was badly disfigured by burns

● Father, Charles Joseph Sax,chief instrument maker of Belgium. He was appointed by William 1 of Orange.

● Learned instrument making from his father in his shop● When he was 15 he built 2 flutes and a clarinet from Ivory● Invented a new fingering system for the soprano clarinet● Reinvented the bass clarinet into a playable instrument (this

redesign had immediate success)

Antoine Joseph Sax

Antoine Joseph Sax - continued● Moved to Paris in 1842 to make a

name for himself, at 28● Could play most woodwind and

brass instruments, due to conservatory training

● Retooled brass instruments, saxhorns, saxtubs, saxtrombas

● Recognized as one of the world's top instrument makers, 1842

● Granted 35 patents during his life● Friend of composer Hector Berlioz● Had 5 kids, never married the

mother● Liked challenging people to

musical “duels”● Was skilled at making enemies,

like most musical geniuses

Why was the Saxophone invented?● The original idea was for use

in military bands and orchestras.

● Easier to play, octaves have same fingering, saxophone family has same fingering. (Alto, Bartione tuned Eb, Tenor, Soprano tuned to Bb) Only change embouchure.

● Sax believed his Saxophone had the tonal qualities of woodwinds, projection of brass, and the flexibility of strings.

● Louder, easier, more flexibility

Saxophone Patent

Likely invented by Sax in 1840 (approximately) and patented in 1846

When did Sax get his break?

● His break came when the French military gave him a contract to build the horns.

● On April 22nd, 1844 an outdoor concert on the Champ de Mars was held. What instruments were superior? The current brass instruments of the day or the newly invented saxophone?

● 20,000 Parisians loved the saxophones, even though 7 of his musicians were bribed to not show for the concert

● He won a patent for the saxophones in 1846, 8 members, included subcontrabass (never built) to sopranino

Sax's Trials and Tribulations

● Organization formed which was meant to destroy Sax, Association of Untied Instrument Makers (UIM).

● UIM bought up Sax company shares, resold it at half the price to scare away potential investors

● Stole his tools and plans● Counterfeited saxophones● Destroyed his workshop with

a fire

You Can't Kill the Sax

● United Instrument Makers (UIM) attempted to assassinate Adolphe Sax twice

● First attempted assassination, a bomb was placed under his bed exploded early, because of a faulty fuse.

● Second - stabbing of an employee at night, that was a similar height & body type to Sax. Stabbed in the heart at his home. He wasn't there.

Sax's Trials and Tribulations - 2

● He want bankrupt... 3 times in 1852, 1873, 1877

● He had to sell 500 rare instruments and handmade tools, his craft and life.

● Developed a cancerous tumor on his lip, grew so large he had to eat through tube. (Indian doctor cured it with herbal treatment in 6 months.)

Due to all this 18,000 instruments were built in his instrument factory. Only 945 were saxophones. This was due to all the trouble he had due to his health, United Instrument Makes, and all the lawsuits.

945 Saxophones

Oldest saxophone known made by Sax - Baritone

Saxophone Oppression

● Nazis banned the saxophone because of it's Western influence

● Communist and czarist Russia, sent saxophone players to Siberia

● Japan limited the number allowed during World War 2.

● Censors edited out a saxophone solo in a “Street Car Named Desire” since they felt the instrument was too sexually explicit. The scene stay the same, only the music was changed.

● Older brothers

Sax's Legacy

● Despite the opposition, Sax's legacy has endured.

● Saxophones can be found in Jamaica, Russia, China, Egypt, Domician Republic, Barbados, Peru, Tonga, New Guinea, Brazil, and more countries.

● In the US over 1 million saxophones were sold after World War 1. Popularized by Six Brown Brothers and Clay Smith & GE Holmes.

● You'll find saxophones in Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Motown, Funk, Soul, Jazz, modern orchestras, pop, etc.

Would Sax be Happy?

I assume so as he was a rebel in his day. He always wanted and hoped the saxophone was going to be used in traditional orchestras, ironically. While the saxophone is in a lot of music today, it has yet to break into the symphony.

Famous Players

“The players whose personalities and tones and sounds and imaginations that have come through that horn have been amazing.” - Joe Lovano

Phil Woods

Dexter Gordon

Famous Players – Continued

Bill ClintonKenny G

Stan Getz

More Famous Players

Saxophone in TV

Lisa Simpson (Doug Webb)

Lenny PickettSaturday Night Live

Saxophone in Movies

● Some Like it Hot● Body Heat● Pink Panther● Taxi Driver● Catch Me if You Can● Naked Lunch● The Hustler● Last Tango in Paris● Alfie● Glenngary Glenn

Ross● And more!

“It shows me all my limitations and strengths.” - Branford Marsalis

Youtube!!!

Saxophone Playlist - http://ayh.me/saxp

If you want to read “The Devil's Horn” (you do!)

● Available through the Enoch Pratt Library ● Probably other Libraries● Amazon – ayh/me/adh● Alibris -- ayh.me/alidh ● IndieBound -- ayh.me/ibdh

Questions, Thoughts, Comments?

Hope you had fun!

SingingDogs.netAdamYamadaHanff.com

Slideshare - ayh.me/saxsl