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| Woodwind instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Single-reed |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 422.212-71 (Single-reedaerophone withkeys) |
| Inventor(s) | Adolphe Sax |
| Developed | 1840s |
| Playing range | |
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| Related instruments | |
| Sizes: Orchestral saxophones: Specialty saxophones: | |
| Musicians | |
| Seelist of saxophonists | |
Thealto saxophone is a member of thesaxophone family ofwoodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented byBelgian instrument designerAdolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key ofE♭, smaller than theB♭tenor but larger than the B♭soprano. It is the most common saxophone and is used inpopular music,concert bands,chamber music,solo repertoire,military bands,marching bands,pep bands,carnatic music, andjazz (such asbig bands,jazz combos,swing music).
The alto saxophone had a prominent role in the development of jazz. Influential jazz musicians who made significant contributions includeDon Redman,Jimmy Dorsey,Johnny Hodges,Benny Carter,Charlie Parker,Sonny Stitt,Lee Konitz,Jackie McLean,Phil Woods,Art Pepper,Paul Desmond, andCannonball Adderley.
Although the role of the alto saxophone in orchestral music has been limited, influential performers includeMarcel Mule,Sigurd Raschèr,Jean-Marie Londeix,Eugene Rousseau, andFrederick L. Hemke.
As with most saxophones, the alto's written range is B♭3 to F6 (or F♯6),[1] with the higheraltissimo register starting at F♯6 (or G6). The saxophone's altissimo register is more difficult to control than that of other woodwinds and is usually only expected from advanced players. There is no well-defined upper limit for the altissimo register.
The alto saxophone is atransposing instrument, with pitches sounding a major sixth lower than written. In terms of concert pitches, the alto saxophone's range is from concert D♭3 (the D♭ belowmiddle C—seeScientific pitch notation) to concert A♭5 (or A5 on altos with a high F♯ key).
A few rare alto saxophones, like someSelmer Mark VI models, have been keyed to reach a low A, a semitone lower, similar tobaritone saxophones.[2][3]
Notable jazz alto saxophonists includeCharlie Parker,Cannonball Adderley,Johnny Hodges,Sonny Stitt,Paul Desmond,Benny Carter,Ornette Coleman,Lee Konitz,Bobby Watson,Eric Dolphy,Marshall Allen,Art Pepper,Julius Hemphill,Oliver Lake,Anthony Braxton,Henry Threadgill,Carlos Ward,David Sanborn,Dave Koz,Tom Scott,Paquito D'Rivera,John Zorn,Tim Berne,Steve Wilson,Steve Coleman,Greg Osby,Vincent Herring,Mark Gross,Kenny Garrett andJeff Coffin.
Notable classical alto saxophonists includeTim McAllister,Jean-Yves Fourmeau,Lawrence Gwozdz,Donald Sinta,Harvey Pittel,Larry Teal,Kenneth Tse,Arno Bornkamp,Harry White,Otis Murphy,Claude Delangle.
Kadri Gopalnath was the pioneer of Carnatic music for the instrument.Rudresh Mahanthappa combines elements of jazz and Carnatic music for the alto saxophone.[4]
Companies that currently produce saxophones includeBuffet Crampon,KHS/Jupiter,Conn-Selmer,Selmer Paris,Yamaha,Leblanc/Vito,Keilwerth,Cannonball, andYanagisawa.
The alto saxophone has a large classical solo repertoire that includes solos withorchestra,piano, andwind symphony. Two important solo compositions areJacques Ibert's "Concertino da Camera" andAlexander Glazunov's "Concerto in E Flat major".
The alto saxophone is found in the standard instrumentation ofconcert bands andsaxophone quartets. Alexander Glazunov composed his Saxophone Quartet in B-flat major in 1932.
The alto saxophone is sometimes used in orchestral music. Some of the compositions where it appears are listed below.
