Amazing new invention-aulochrome

[Kritavi]

Francois Louis has done it again, but what is it this time?
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/354722p-302390c.html

[Mike Ruhl]

Francois Louis has done it again, but what is it this time?l (http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/354722p-302390c.html)It's two sopranos welded together. Big deal.

[jimmehMarkVI]

same idea as the double necked guitar I guess..

Novelty with very little practical use.

[No Clever Name]

Maybe.. maybe.

I think, though, that if the Aulochrome takes off, there could be some very interesting pieces written for it.

The ability to sound two voices at once opens many possibilities; beyond simply harmonizing with yourself, you can manipulate the resultant tone and create a third voice to be used in harmonization.

Naturally, at the moment there are no saxophone techniques for playing on two esentially instruments simultaneously.. but if the Aulochrome takes off, I would be willing to bet that in a few years it will introduce new methods of articulation, playing style, and maybe best of all awareness of tuning; something a lot of modern sax players are woefully ignorant of.

[Tim Price]

Francois Louis has done it again, but what is it this time?
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/354722p-302390c.html

Kritavi- I know Francois so I can give you some information on this innovative brillant invention.

Did you know Francois Louis- recieved the Adolph Sax award?
I might of mentioned that a few years back. In any case....

The Aulochrome is a new polyphonic and chromatic woodwind instrument.
It resembles two soprano saxophone bodies and uses a revolutionary mechanism, allowing the keys of both pipes to be played either separately or together over the entire range.

Thus any possible interval can be played chromatically from the lowest note of one pipe to the highest note of the other pipe.

Francois made a double mouthpiece of two separate elements placed together.

The tone chambers are different, enabling independant harmonization in the two pipes.

The acoustics of the AULO is totally different than any other saxophone made ever. And- this has been documented by players who have held and played the instrument!!

The AULO produces differential tones with a virtual bass note resulting from the difference of the frequencies of the two notes of one interval.
Then additional tones, extending the lower register far below the deepest note determined by the length of the pipes.The horns go to LOW A !!Also, a tiny “mistuning” of the unison generates beats; players can control the rhythm of the pulsations.

The possibility of playing contrapuntal lines becomes a reality.

Check out what Joe Lovano, a seasoned jazz professional player has said about this invention;

February 03

François Louis’ creation of the AULOCHROME, the first polyphonic saxophone, is next offspring in the woodwind family. The AULOCHROME is truly a revelation in the world of musical instrument development and will generate and inspire musicians and composers in the new millennium and beyond. It’s potential to create textures and sounds never before imagined is indescribable with words.
To see and hear this instrument is one thing, but, to hold it and have it come to life with your breath and ideas, is what the magic of the music is all about.

I’ve had the great fortune to see the AULOCHROME develop from its birth and dream of the day I can study and develop with my approach in music its unlimited potential.

To play counter-melodies, harmonic voicings, intervallic rhythms, unisons, exploring its overtones and undertones, To sing with Two Voices!!
It’s a beautiful dream that has become reality.

Thanks to François LOUIS and his deep passion and genius. BRAVO !!
JOE LOVANO
Musician/ composer,
“Gary Burton” Chair in
Jazz Performance
Berklee College of Music

This is a serious innovation to the saxophone family.
By far...something that has infinate possibilties.

In talking to David Liebman at the BlueNote the ther week in NyC...
He strongly felt that the keys to the AULO offer almost no resistance.
That in itself, is a step ahead in the world of saxophones.
Francois Louis and I both were hangin' at the BlueNote in NyC, diggin' Liebmans " QUEST" reunion gig. ( with Richie Beirach, Ron McLure and Billy Hart )
To know, Francois Louis as a friend is an extreme honor for me.I notedwith extreme interest the enthusuiam he listened to the Quest band with. And the intensity and love _OF THE MUSICS_he surrounds himself with. This man is is responsible for one of that century's most important advancements to the saxophone world. We had a ball istening to Liebs doing his thing.

Plus- the next Saturday at Robertos, in NyC, the one and only Patrick Selmer was in the shop and it was a warm & beautiful feeling to see BOTH of these guys in the same small room. ( as I said- AN HONOR!!! )

AS PLATO SAID;8-)
"The beginning is the most important part of the work." - Plato

AND WE ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT PERIOD IN THE NEVER ENDING LIFE OF THE SAXOPHONE !! <imho>

Hope this sheds some insight and light. Thanks.

[Grumps]

Yeah, someone will buy one and then come here and ask if anyone knows a decent tech in their area that can separate it...

[Kritavi]

Tim, thanks for another great post. Given that it comes from such a gifted artist and has been spoken of so highly by the great players who have seen it I find it really exciting. Lets face it, jazz has become as much about profoundly gifted imitation as it has about innovation. I'd love to see the AULO in production and in use.
BTW what about the weight of them and playing posture? Do they pose any unusual problems with weight, angle, etc?:?

[gary]

...but.

Well, er...

does it go up to 11? :D

[Tim Price]

Tim, thanks for another great post. Given that it comes from such a gifted artist and has been spoken of so highly by the great players who have seen it I find it really exciting. Lets face it, jazz has become as much about profoundly gifted imitation as it has about innovation. I'd love to see the AULO in production and in use.
BTW what about the weight of them and playing posture? Do they pose any unusual problems with weight, angle, etc?:?


Kritavi- weight, angle is fantastic. Perfect. To be blunt, Francois Louis is a man of total perfection and total precision thru sound. This guy, I can't say enough great things about him. In addition he is a fantastic sax player.
If you look close at my pic on these posts on SOTW - my stritch mouthpiece
was made by him.Its clear plexi-glass mouthpiece that fills up the tube of the straight alto like nothing ever did.
Francois Louis really has a innovative double horn going.
The weight is great. The principles of air to sound via a double sax is the best. And- posture is very comfortable.
I hope they go into production. Thanks for your kind words too:)

Btw- "jazz has become as much about profoundly gifted imitation as it has about innovation " - GREAT ONE MY MAN....I enjoyed that.:D Excellent observation of the scene.8-)

[larry]

This sounds really spiff. The concept is interesting (the double-mouthpiece with the double FL lig, in particular), but I'd love to hear what one actually sounds like! Are there any on-clips we can access?

Thanks!:joker:

[Kritavi]

Yes I agree with Larry lets get some sound clips out there!

The comment about "profoundly gifted imitators" comes from an observation by my dear friend Tisziji Munoz, a remarkable musician who employs some tremendous players on his recordings and gigs including Pharoah Sanders, Dave Liebman, Ravi Coltrane, Nick Brignola, Rashied Ali, Bob Moses etc etc. He has taken the electric guitar into some new and non-earthly territory.
You can find info at www.anamimusic.com (you need the www or it won't access). There is a reason why so many people close to John Coltrane have worked for him, so check it out! :shock: :shock:

[martysax]

Will it be available as a Two-tone?

Can one side be dark, the other bright?

How would Kenny G look with somthing like this hanging out the side of his mouth?

[Chris S]

Okay, I'm intrigued..... but how would it be to be playing say... a low A against a high E or something.... throath wise? We sax players use our throats a lot for voicing..... and intonation..... how is that? I don't know if I have (or could develop) the muscle control to make everything in tune (i.e. having to adjust on one side of my chops and not the other....)

But I am intrigued, and if this goes into production.... I'll buy one and I'll write some stuff for it.

Best,
Chris S

[El Tigre]

If God had wanted me to play two saxophones at once, he would have given me two heads.

[El Tigre]

AND four hands!!

[Gandalfe]

Fortunately no one told Roland Kirk that. :D

[-88-]

So would somebody please post some tone clips of the aulochrome. I want to hear it. PLEASE.

[saxmanglen]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/279-aulochome.JPG

From the article:

"Louis worked nonstop on the aulochrome for two years in his workshop in Ciplet, Belgium, starting with two crude Borgani saxophone bodies that he welded together. He constructed all the other parts for the horn - the tubes, rods, cross hinges, keys, pads and roller - as well as the horn's double mouthpiece."

The question remains...........................Why?

[fballatore]

Hey Glen -

Would you happen to have two old tenors you're not using that I can borrow? I have an idea...:geek:

Frank

Didn't people initially oppose Adolph Sax's invention?

[saxmanglen]

Frank,

I released a little GAS and sold my second tenor when I bought a Reference 54 alto.

Don't you have 3 tenors now? I think the 23 and 52 are perfect for the task......

[xuanvu]

Innovation. creativity. Desire to experiment and try new things. that's why you have wireless, LCD, laptop. microwave, refrigerator...

Kenny.

[bariman987]

dude francois is a genius that aulochrome is amazing8-)

[saxymanzach]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/279-aulochome.JPG


The question remains...........................Why?


If you were working with people like Lovano and Leibman and you had two years to spare and enough money to throw around for a thing like this...why not?

[CashSax]

I want one..

[Timmy_G]

Will it come in a baritone model???

[Squibbs]

thats actually really interesting,... i really want to know if different size models (tenor alto, bari - BASS even) will come out at some point.

imagine a sax section - reduced to 2 or three guys up there on aulos, or evene more insane (in a good way) - all 5 dude(tte)s up there with aulos

this is going to be something worth keeping an eye on....

[Hornless :(]

Can I just say I've been checking back on this thread every few weeks waiting for a soundclip to suddently appear.


Nothing...


I wonder how many people made 'thats the dumbest thing ever' comments when Adolph invented a funny looking metal woodwin thing, a few years ago?

;)

/history, will we never learn from you?
//muhahaha!

[BariSkaJazz]

My teacher played it, he said it was a 'real trip'.


He didn't tell me where though....

[eddierich]

http://www.joelovano.com/bigben.htm

I've been looking for a recording of this instrument for months!!! Here's Joe Lovano playing and talking about the aulochrome.

[AuntSaxophone]

Will it come in a baritone model???
Nooooo, the Bari itself is hard enough for me to handle!