Saxhorn

The saxhorn is a family of valved brass instruments that have conical bores and
Saxhorn
deep cup-shaped mouthpieces. The saxhorn family was developed by Adolphe
Sax, who is also known for creating the saxophone family. The sound of the
saxhorn has a characteristic mellow tone quality and blends well with other
brass.

Contents
The saxhorn family
Ranges of individual members
History
A modern 5-valved bass saxhorn.
See also
Brass instrument
References
Discography Classification
Wind
External links
Brass
Aerophone

The saxhorn family Hornbostel– 423.232

Sachs (Valved aerophone
The saxhorns form a family of seven brass instruments (although at one point
classification sounded by lip
ten different sizes seem to have existed). Designed for band use, they are pitched
movement)
alternately in E♭ and B♭, like the saxophone group.
Developed Early-mid 19th
Modern saxhorns still manufactured and in use: century by Adolphe
Sax
B♭ soprano saxhorn: flugelhorn[1]
E♭ alto/tenor saxhorn: alto/tenor horn
Playing range
B♭ baritone saxhorn: baritone horn or euphonium
The B♭ bass, E♭ bass, and B♭ contrabass saxhorns are basically the
same as the modern tuba, E♭ bass tuba, and BB♭ contrabass tuba,
respectively.
Historically, much confusion exists as to the nomenclature of the various
instruments in different languages.
(As written in treble clef for 3-valved
The following table lists the members of the saxhorn family as described in the instruments. Instruments with more
orchestration texts of Hector Berlioz and Cecil Forsyth, the J. Howard Foote valves can play lower.)
catalog of 1893, and modern names. The modern instrument names continue to Related instruments
exhibit inconsistency, denoted by a "/" between the two names in use. In the
table "Pitch" means the concert pitch of notational Middle C on each instrument Modern saxhorns:
(2nd partial, no valves depressed) inscientific pitch notation.
Flugelhorn
Alto horn
Baritone horn
Other instruments:

Cornet
 Mellophone
Euphonium
Tuba

A catalogue showing various

Adolphe Sax instruments, including
saxhorns, saxophones, and
saxotrombas.

Foote Berlioz Forsyth Modern Pitch

--- Sopranino in C/B♭ --- --- C5/B♭4
--- Soprano in E♭ Sopranino in E♭ Sopranino/Soprano in E♭ E♭4
--- Alto in B♭ Soprano in B♭ Soprano/Alto in B♭ B♭3
Alto in E♭ Tenor in E♭ Alto in E♭ Alto/Tenor in E♭ E♭3
Tenor in B♭ Baritone in B♭ Tenor in B♭ Tenor/Baritone in B♭ B♭2
Baritone in B♭ Bass in B♭ Bass in B♭ Baritone/Bass in B♭ B♭2
Bass in E♭ Contrabass in E♭ Bass in E♭ Bass in E♭ E♭2
--- Contrabass in B♭ Contrabass in B♭ Contrabass in B♭ B♭1
Contrabass in E♭ Contrabass in low E♭ --- --- E♭1
--- Bourdon in B♭ --- --- B♭0

This list is not exhaustive of historic nomenclature for the saxhorns, for which there may exist no comprehensive and authoritative
source.

Ranges of individual members

The saxhorn is based on the same three-valve system as most other valved brass instruments. Each member of the family is named
after the root note produced by the secondpartial with no valves actuated. Each member nominally possesses or possessed the typical
three-valve brass range from the note one tritone below that root note (second partial, all valves actuated) to the note produced by
eighth partial with no valves actuated, i.e., the note two octaves above the root note.

All the modern members of the family are transposing instruments written in the treble clef with the root note produced by the second
partial with no valves actuated being written as middle C, though the baritone horn often plays bass clef parts, especially in concert
band music and when playing parts written for the trombone.
History
Developed during the mid-to-late 1830s, the saxhorn family was patented in Paris in 1845 by Adolphe Sax. During the 19th century,
the debate as to whether the saxhorn family was truly new, or rather a development of previously existing instruments, was the
subject of prolonged lawsuits.[2]

Throughout the mid-1850s, Sax continued to experiment with the instrument's valve pattern.

The Trojan March (Marche Troyenne) of the Berlioz opera Les Troyens (1856–58) features an on-stage band which includes a family
of saxhorns.

Saxhorns were popularized by the distinguished Distin Quintet, who toured Europe during the mid-19th century. This family of
musicians, publishers and instrument manufacturers had a significant impact on the growth of the brass band movement in Britain
during the mid- to late-19th century.

The saxhorn was the most common brass instrument in American Civil War bands. The over-the-shoulder variety of the instrument
was used, as the backward-pointing bell of the instrument allowed troops marching behind the band to hear the music.

Contemporary works featuring this instrument are Désiré Dondeyne's "Tubissimo" for bass tuba or saxhorn and piano (1983) and
Olivier Messiaen's "Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum" (1964).

Historical saxhorns

Saxhorn used by the 1st Minnesota Band of 10th Veteran Reserve

Volunteer Infantry Regiment during Corps, Washington, D.C., April,
the Civil War. The backward-facing 1865
bell version became the most
common brass instrument in Civil
War bands so that troops marching
behind the band could hear the
music. From the collection of the
Minnesota Historical Society.

See also
Alto horn
Baritone horn
Flugelhorn
Euphonium
Sudrophone
References
1. "Greg's Brass History Page - Flugelhorn History"(http://www.alsmiddlebrasspages.com/brasshistory/flugelhistory.ht
ml). Alsmiddlebrasspages.com. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
2. The British Brass Band : A Musical and Social History
. Oxford University Press. 2000. p. 169.ISBN 0-19-816698-2.

J. Howard Foote catalog, 1893

Berlioz, Hector (1948). Treatise on Instrumentation. Edwin F. Kalmus.
Forsyth, Cecil (1982). Orchestration. New York: Dover Publications.ISBN 0-486-24383-4.
Jachino, Carlo (1978).Gli strumenti d'orchestra. Milano: Edizioni Curci.

Discography
Saxhorn et piano - Hybrid'Music Label - October 2008
David Maillot, saxhorn - Géraldine Dutroncy
, piano - Works by Eugène Bozza, Marcel Bitsch, Jacques Castérède,
Alain Bernaud, Henri Tomasi, Claude Pascal, Gérard Devos and Roger Boutry.
14 Volumes of saxhorn band are available featuring The First Brigade Band.

External links
Dodworth Saxhorn Band
Greg's Brass History Page
First Brigade Band
Galpin Society list of extant Adolphe Sax instruments
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911)."Saxhorn" . Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

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