Sax’s Invention  

The saxophone was invented in the early 1840’s by Adolphe Sax, a young Belgian flute and clarinet player.  Sax was the son of an instrument maker and started doing serious work on instruments at the tender age of six.   

As he grew older he was disturbed by the differences in volume between the families of instruments.  He observed that the strings are easily overpowered by the winds, which in turn are frequently overpowered by the brass section. 

Sax set out to create an instrument that would bridge the gap between the woodwind and brass instrument families.  He based his design on the clarinet, but used brass for the body, and gave it a conical body for greater volume and projection.   

Sax believed his instruments could improve both orchestral ensembles and military bands.  He created two distinct families of saxophones, with 7 sizes each.  His orchestral horns were pitched in C or F, and the ones for military use in Eb or Bb.   

Although the composer Hector Berlioz was very impressed with the new instrument, rivalries and snobberies soon shut the saxophone out of the orchestral arena.  Fortunately, the new instrument was quickly accepted for military band use.  This was largely because of a military band contest suggested by Sax.  He pitted his 28-member band, with saxophones, against the larger French Army band.  Sax’s band overwhelmed the audience and was pronounced the winner.  Thereafter the French Army adopted the saxophone, which soon became popular in bands across Europe and the United States. 

In the U.S. , the sax really took off in popularity because of its prevalence in big band and jazz.  It is still made in several sizes: Bb soprano, Eb alto, Bb tenor, Eb baritone, and Bb bass.  Today it ties with percussion for being the most requested instrument amongst students starting band.  It’s a good thing they don’t all end up playing it, though.  Imagine what a band would be like with just drums and saxes!  After all, Sax wanted to fill in between the existing woodwind and brass instruments, not replace them!