Aulochrome- Double soprano thingy

14528 Views 26 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Heath Watts, Nov 17, 2008

Jazz House

Discussion Starter · May 1, 2007

Hey, ever heard of the Aulochrome?

Here is a URL of a video of Joe Lovano playing the aulochrome.

THis thing is soooooooo cool.

Ever played one? Have any ideas about pricing and stuff like that?

:!:

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1 - 20 of 27 Posts

They're not in production and, as of last I heard, there's only one in existence that Francois Louis guards with his life. I'm reading a great book called "The Devil's Horn" by Michael Segell which is a history of the saxophone with a chapter on Francois Louis and the aulochrome. Evidently he's had problems with other companies blocking manufacturing with claims of copyright infringement which has interesting parallels to problems Adolphe Sax had.

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matty

· #3 · May 1, 2007

I heard Joe Lovano last Thursday night (4/26) He was doing a monk tribute in Cleveland. He played an (THE??) aulochrome on Evidence and Epistrophy. Man, that thing is crazy. Sometimes the harmonies lined up and sounded stunning....other times not so much, but what a neat gadget that thing is. I'd also add that he was able to play on one side of the horn, as a monophonic soprano if he wanted by re-directing his airstream into only one side of the horn........wacky, but with potential, as if learning to play one saxophone at a time well wasn't difficult enough!

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odsum25

· #4 · May 1, 2007

There are a few in existence, not just one.

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whaler

· #5 · May 1, 2007

George Braith made one these things years ago called the Braithophone. The thought of Lovano with two sopranos is more than I can bear.

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odsum25

· #6 · May 1, 2007

The Braithophone is different from the Aulochrome. Braith is a great musician though.

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Tim Price

· #7 · May 2, 2007

odsum25 said:
The Braithophone is different from the Aulochrome. Braith is a great musician though.

The Braithaphone is an Alto & Soprano with a common bell.

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kevvieg

· #8 · May 2, 2007

You'd have to be able to hold your braith for a long time to play one....

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odsum25

· #9 · May 2, 2007

Tim Price said:
The Braithaphone is an Alto & Soprano with a common bell.

Knew it was different. Thanks for clarifying, Tim.

Is he still hanging at University of the Streets? I haven't been down there in awhile...

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leonardrashid

· #10 · Nov 18, 2007

Mr. George Braith and the Braithaphone!!!!!!!!

I can remember walking up and down 42nd st/ Time square back in the day and would first here this brother, doing his thing.. It was great I had contact with this brother for a short time but lost contact because I moved to Europe for about 10 years, i would love to here more of his music being streamed, i am working on Pandora to stream his music !!! can anyone help ?????

[email protected]

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E_di_e

· #11 · Nov 18, 2007

I've just heard a disc of Lovano and Liebman in tribute for John Coltrane (called John Coltrane Tribute, N.Y. 20th july 2007). Lovano is playing aulochrome in the theme called Compassion.

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Yamahaaltoplayer

· #12 · Nov 2, 2008

One problem. How in tune are they?

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Tobias

· #13 · Nov 2, 2008

"The Aulochrome - the first sax which isn't intune with itself!"

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Twombles62

· #14 · Nov 2, 2008

No sax is in tune with itself. It's called intonation.

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Yamahaaltoplayer

· #15 · Nov 2, 2008

I was going to say that but I think he meant two notes played in unison.

Hey, I love this joke:

What's the best example of a minor second?

A: Two soprano saxes playing in unison.

Oh whoops, I just realized I revived this thread for a joke...

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Tobias

· #16 · Nov 2, 2008

Yamahaaltoplayer is right.

alternativ:
A: the b'' on the Aulochrome

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Henshaw

· #17 · Nov 2, 2008

I went to see Lovano (28th Oct) in Sydney and he played on it a couple of times. I had heard it on Youtube before but hearing it live...I'm still unsure. PS Lovano was awesome live!

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themacintrasher

· #18 · Nov 2, 2008

Tim Price said:
The Braithaphone is an Alto & Soprano with a common bell.

Can we get some pictures?

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Multi Reed

· #19 · Nov 2, 2008

Just got back from seeing Joe Lovano last night and YES... he had the aulochrome with him. I was invited back to the green room and spoke to Joe for a little while. He explained it was from the Greek Aulos meaning pipe and chrome meaning either chromatic or the colour.

Joe played it last night and the horn appears capable of playing unison (although the unison lines seem to create some intonation discrepencies which give the aulochrome a unique sound). It also appeared possible to play one and have the other pedal a lower tone at times. He was also able to play different notes at the same time (polyphonic lines). The keywork design appears to allow enough flexibility to be able to play each independently.

The other neat thing is that the aulochrome appeared to have an extended range and seemed to have at least a low A. In Lovano's skillful hands, he brought forward several of the possibilities of this unique instrument including harmonics and overtones.

Joe was very happy to chat and incredible to see play. He was playing last night with John Scofield.

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