Unusual saxophones - Dissertation help

[jennymariehird]

Hi,
I am new to this site, but thought I'd write to you all with my first query! I am currently deciding the topic of my final year dissertation (am at Leeds) and I am considering focusing on the saxophone - in particular the saxophones which aren't in common use and why... - i.e. C-Melody, Slide, Saxello, Manzello, Stritch, and maybe even Bass, contrabass and sopranino.

I was wondering whether anyone could recommend any good books, internet sites, people I should try and contact, or even just your opinions...

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys

Jenny Hird

[AlistairD]

Jenny,

Welcome to another SOTWer from Aylesbury....

I'm by no means an expert and would suggest you contact Pete Thomas http://www.petethomas.co.uk/ who is a regular contributor here....

Another site from a SOTWer is http://www.saxpics.com/

Keep researching and good luck...

[paulwl]

Definitely drop a PM or email to Forum members Paul Cohen, Gayle Fredenburgh, and saxtek. Paul in particular is a VERY serious historian, having written the Vintage Saxophones column in Saxophone Journal for many years.

To speak very broadly, I'd say the #1 reason any saxophone disappeared was that too little published music was available for it. Size and cost also come into consideration with the bass and contrabass.

[TMadness1013]

Definitely get in touch w/ Paul Cohen if you can. A GREAT place to start would be to track down back issues of Saxophone Journal from your library (use interlibrary loan if need be!)

[DougR]

Sounds like a major challenge - How many of these things have you seen?, played?, seen played to an audience?

On the assumption that 1, next year is your final year (2006/7) and 2, you will be in Aylesbury soonish.

Visit Allegro in Oxford - its been a couple of years since I was last there but he had a large collection of unusual stuff -including - C melody, Straight Alto and tenor, Bass and a Rationelle.

Pop down to see Graham deVere-White at Myatts - he lives in a cave full of unusual kit and probably knows more on the topic than any dozen ordinary folk.

PS - well done for starting this early - I cannot think that a dissertation on this topic will come easily.

[ukebert]

There's an article about the Saxie in an old GSJ [NUMBER LII : 1999 see http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/galpin/gwtj.html#LII]. It might help, I don't know. In this year's journal there is an article on the Sistema Brevettato Delle Piane, http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/galpin/gwtjLIX.html

Good Luck.
Regards,

ukebert

[Pete]

"Manzello" and "Stritch" are not instrument names from a manufacturer. They're nicknames given to a modified King Saxello and a Buescher Straight Alto, respectively, (originally) by Roland Kirk.

Make sure you talk about the Eppelsheim horns. Their website's www.eppelsheim.com.

If you wish to talk about something in-depth, g'head and PM me and/or send me an e-mail. I don't bite. Too hard.

I am going on vacation on Friday, tho, so if you need something immediately, contact me soon.

I can say that you may wish to modify your premise: the straight alto design is popular enough that, what, three or four manufacturers make them. Several manufacturers make basses and/or sopraninos, the latter in both straight and curved varieties. The Rampone & Cazzani "saxello" soprano has its fans. There are two companies currently making contras. Slide saxophones were essentially Vaudeville toys and no one, to my knowledge, is making these, still.

We can definitely discuss why C and F saxophones never made it. That's a different topic :).

[Paul Cohen]

I have a number of very rare and one-of-a-kind saxophones in my collection (some of which I have written about) that you are welcome to examine and research for your dissertation.

Paul Cohen

[turnerjazz]

Interesting topic. I've been wondering for a while why C saxophones did not stay popular after the 30s. Would have made my life a little easier. No more transposing....

[BarrySachs]

Vince Giordano in NYC has the only example of a straight baritone. PM me and I'll forward you his email address.

[Martin Williams]

Vince Giordano in NYC has the only example of a straight baritone. PM me and I'll forward you his email address.


Not quite entirely true, there are for sure at least three of them, two of them made from Amati baris by a fellow SOTW member. Do a search for "straight Baritone Sax" should unearth the trhread about these. The third one that you are refering to is the Buescher straight correct?

I do also agree with saxpics as far as a point of topic on why C and F saxes arent( and havent been made in ages(mainly C-mels, C-sop, F-Mezzo altos, and a mention at least of Adolphe sax's original design for a bass sax in C that never was made)

As for as other good topical points, soprillo saxes, and Contrabasses, and the eppilsheim horns. I also have pictures on a few 'modified' baris, basses, and contrabasses, that are keyed as low as the F, pretty strange lookin beasts.

I seem to find, the other horns, 'nino - Bass fairly common, but the other stuff would give you a strong bass for a dissertation

Hope this helps!

[gdgreen]

Vince Giordano in NYC has the only example of a straight baritone. PM me and I'll forward you his email address.

Jay Easton (http://www.jayeaston.com/galleries/sax_family/unusual_saxes_page/sax_php_unusual.html) has a straight bari - bright red! He's also a good source for odd saxes, and has just published a book "Writing for Saxophones" with a CD that covers the entire family (Bb soprillo to BBb tubax).

Enjoy,

Grant :bass:
http://www.contrabass.com