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Eric Coates wrote for an alto in his 1936 Saxo-Rhapsody.Poul Ruders includes a significant solo for the alto saxophone in his orchestral suite Concerto in Pieces.Aram Khatchaturian includes an alto in his ballet Gayane.Krzysztof Penderecki scores for two altos in his opera The Devils of Loudon ("Die Teufel von Loudon").Allan Pettersson makes use of an alto in his 16th Symphony.Darius Milhaud writes for an alto in La Creation du Monde, and places it in the score where we would expect to see a viola.Vincent d'Indy enlists two altos in his opera Fervaal.Leonard Bernstein includes an alto sax in his Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.Benjamin Britten calls for an alto in his Sinfonia da Requiem and The Prince of the Pagodas.Pierre Boulez wrote for 2 alto saxes in his composition Pli selon pli ("Fold by Fold").George Gershwin includes it in a few pieces such as Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris.Sergei Rachmaninoff uses the saxophone in his Symphonic Dances as a soloist in the first movement.Alban Berg uses the saxophone in his late orchestral works, most notably " Der Wein", Lulu, and the Violin Concerto.Maurice Ravel uses the saxophone prominently in his orchestration of Modest Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, most notably as the soloist in "Il vecchio castello".Dmitri Shostakovich uses the alto in his Suite for Variety Orchestra and it has a prominent solo in the "Waltz No.It was called for by Richard Strauss in his Sinfonia Domestica, which includes parts for four saxophones including an alto saxophone in F.Georges Bizet features it in the "Intermezzo" and "Minuet" from the second suite of music from L'Arlésienne.Some of the compositions where it appears are listed below. The alto saxophone is sometimes used in orchestral music. Alexander Glazunov composed his Saxophone Quartet in B-flat major in 1932. The alto saxophone is found in the standard instrumentation of concert bands and saxophone quartets. Two important solo compositions are Jacques Ibert's " Concertino da Camera" and Alexander Glazunov's " Concerto in E Flat major". The alto saxophone has a large classical solo repertoire that includes solos with orchestra, piano and wind symphony. Yamaha YAS-62 alto saxophone Classical music repertoire
PAN AMERICAN ALTO SAXOPHONE SAX 1930 PITCH PROFESSIONAL
New alto saxophones range in price between €250 ($281.05) for lower quality student models to over €6000 ($6745.20) for professional instruments. Kadri Gopalnath was the pioneer of Carnatic music for the instrument.Ĭompanies that currently produce saxophones include Buffet Crampon, KHS/ Jupiter, Conn-Selmer, Selmer Paris, Yamaha, Leblanc/ Vito, Keilwerth, Cannonball, P.Mauriat Musical Instrument and Yanagisawa. Notable classical alto saxophonists include Tim McAllister, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Lawrence Gwozdz, Donald Sinta, Harvey Pittel, Larry Teal, Kenneth Tse, Arno Bornkamp, Harry White, Otis Murphy, Claude Delangle.
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Notable jazz alto saxophonists include Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, Johnny Hodges, Paul Desmond, Benny Carter, Ornette Coleman, Bobby Watson, Eric Dolphy, Marshall Allen, Art Pepper, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Carlos Ward, David Sanborn, Dave Koz, Tom Scott, Paquito D'Rivera, John Zorn, Tim Berne, Steve Wilson, Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Vincent Herring, Mark Gross, Kenny Garrett, and Jeff Coffin. Hemke.įree jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman playing the alto sax Influential jazz musicians who made significant contributions include Don Redman, Jimmy Dorsey, Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Jackie McLean, Phil Woods, Art Pepper, Paul Desmond, and Cannonball Adderley.Īlthough the role of the alto saxophone in classical music has been limited, influential performers include Marcel Mule, Sigurd Raschèr, Jean-Marie Londeix, Eugene Rousseau, and Frederick L. The alto saxophone had a prominent role in the development of jazz. The fingerings of the different saxophones are all the same, so a saxophone player can play any type of saxophone.
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It is the most common saxophone and is commonly used in popular music, concert bands, chamber music, solo repertoire, military bands, marching bands, and jazz (such as big bands, jazz combos, swing music). Invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846, it is pitched in E ♭, smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano. The alto saxophone, also referred to as the alto sax, is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Most modern alto saxophones can reach a high F ♯ (or higher using altissimo fingerings). In E ♭: sounds a major sixth lower than written.
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