Alto saxophone

The alto saxophone is a Musical instrument transposing instrument of the family of the saxophones. Its Tonalité is in mi \ flat .

It is used as well in the traditional or the Jazz, as in the variety or the Modern music. Its Tessiture extends (played and not heard notes) from the serious si \ flat (under the carried in treble clef) with the F or the acute fa \ sharp (above this same range). However, some Musicien S manage to reach higher notes called overshrill, thus being able to gain a octave, even more.

The tessiture of the alto saxophone in heard notes extends from the serious C sharp to the acute one (except overshrill harmonics).

Repertory

The saxophone viola quickly was essential in classical music like the principal saxophone, that which is taught in the academies, for which is written the majority of the sonatas with piano, and which most frequently takes part in the orchestra. Its repertory is thus considerable.

It opens with the XIX° century by the parts of contest of the Academy of Paris, written for the class of Adolphe Sax: Jean-Baptiste Singelée, Klosé, Arban, Mayeur and Demerssemann will sign many parts which are dedicated to him.

At the beginning of the XX° century, it is for alto saxophone that Elise Hall order of works with Debussy, of Indy, Caplet or Schmitt. It is also alto saxophone of which play mainly Marcel Mule and Sigurd Rascher, which will respectively create the parts of Tomasi, Rueff, Desenclos, Constant for one, Ibert, Glazounov, Martin, Larsson and Hindemith for the other.

Lastly, among the generations of pupils of the two Masters of the saxophone, one can quote Daniel Deffayet, Jean-Marie Londeix, or John-Edward Kelly, of which the essence of the career proceeded with the alto saxophone, at one time when few saxophonists practiced the poly-instrumentism.

It would be tiresome to give a list of the traditional saxophonists who play of the alto saxophone today: it is the case of each one of them!

Some works solo

Sonatas with piano

Concerti with orchestra

It is thus rather side of the jazz which one will seek the rarer personalities which practice this instrument. Briefly let us quote: Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, Art Pepper, Cannonball Adderley, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, John Zorn, Stephan Payen, Guillaume Orti,…

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • List of players of sax viola

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