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 B♭ soprano saxophone (left), silver-plated C soprano saxophone (center), E♭sopranino saxophone (right). | |
| Woodwind instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Single-reed |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 422.212-71 (Single-reedaerophone withkeys) |
| Inventor | Adolphe Sax |
| Developed | 1840s |
| Playing range | |
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| Related instruments | |
| Sizes: Orchestral saxophones: Specialty saxophones: | |
| Musicians | |
| Seelist of saxophonists | |
TheC soprano saxophone is a member of thesaxophone family, invented in 1846. It closely resembles the more common B♭soprano saxophone but is pitched a whole step higher. Unlike most other saxophones, it is not atransposing instrument, a quality it shares with theC melody (also called C tenor) saxophone. The C soprano has an identical range to theoboe.
As with C melody saxophones, American production of C sopranos commenced circa 1919 and ended around 1929. The same companies that madeC melody instruments manufactured C soprano saxophones, and they were marketed to those who wished to performoboe parts inmilitary bands,vaudeville arrangements, or church hymnals. C sopranos made by some French manufacturers exist but are exceedingly rare.
In the early 2010s, the New Zealand–based company Aquilasax contracted a factory in China to produce C sopranos, with modern keywork but a bore copied fromC.G. Conn's 1920s model. These received a very mildly positive response from players and technicians who encountered them,[1] but demand was low and only a small number was produced. Aquilasax is now defunct, and the factory that produced these instruments is no longer operational.
C sopranos are the same shape as B♭ sopranos and differ in length by only around 3 centimeters. Nearly all vintage examples are keyed from low B♭ to high E♭. Aquilasax's 2010s models were keyed to high F and F♯. C soprano saxophones usually have a "C" stamped on them, close to the serial number.
The range of the standard vintage horn from 1920-1928 is a concert/written B♭3 to E♭6
The 2010 models are keyed from B♭3 to F6, F♯6 (or G6 for models with a High-G key).
The C soprano saxophone was written for byRichard Strauss in hisSinfonia Domestica, where included in the music are parts for four saxophones including a soprano saxophone in C.
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