The contrabass saxophone is one of the lowest-pitched members of the saxophone family. It is extremely large (twice the length of tubing of the baritone saxophone, with a bore twice as wide, standing 6 feet four inches tall, or 1.9 meters) and heavy (approximately 45 pounds, or 20.4 kilograms), and is pitched in the key of EE♭, one octave below the baritone. Approximately 15 examples of this instrument exist in the world today, most of which were manufactured by Evette or C. G. Conn during the saxophone craze of the 1920s. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator (usually a tube), in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. ... A woodwind instrument is a wind instrument in which sound is produced by blowing against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch governed by the resonant frequencies of an enclosed air column. ... An aerophone is any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound. ... The playing range of a musical instrument is the region of pitch in which it can play, i. ... Image File history File links Alto_sax_range. ... The musical interval of a major sixth is the relationship between the first note (the root or tonic) and the sixth note in a Major scale. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... The soprillo, a piccolo or sopranissimo saxophone, is the worlds smallest saxophone. ... An E-flat sopranino saxophone (right). ... The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument. ... Mezzo-soprano (left) and alto (right) saxophones. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The C melody saxophone is a saxophone in the key of C, one whole step above the tenor saxophone. ... The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax. ... The baritone saxophone, often called bari sax (to avoid confusion with the baritone horn, which is often referred to simply as baritone), is one of the larger and lower pitched members of the saxophone family. ... The bass saxophone (or bass sax for short) is the second largest existing member of the saxophone family (or third largest, if the subcontrabass tubax is counted). ... A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right), the closest extant instrument to a subcontrabass saxophone. ... A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right). ... Explanation of columns: s = Sopranino S = Soprano A = Alto T = Tenor B = Baritone b = Bass c = Contrabass sc = Subcontrabass (i. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... The saxophone (colloquially referred to as sax) is a conical-bored instrument of the woodwind family. ... The baritone saxophone, often called bari sax (to avoid confusion with the baritone horn, which is often referred to simply as baritone), is one of the larger and lower pitched members of the saxophone family. ... C.G. Conn Ltd. ...

Modern instruments

Although the instrument is still produced, it is quite rare, perhaps partly due to its great expense. At present only two manufacturers produce it: one is a partnership between Orsi and L.A. Sax, and the other is Benedikt Eppelsheim of Munich, Germany^[1]. Benedikt Eppelsheim is a world-renowned German manufacturer of high- and low-voiced saxophones, the soprillo and tubax, which are available exclusively from him. ... For other uses, see Munich (disambiguation). ...

Use

Especially in its lowest register, the instrument produces a massive and somewhat harsh, foghorn-like tone. Because of its extremely low register (like the contrabassoon), it can be difficult for listeners to perceive individual pitches; instead of hearing a clearly defined melody, listeners may instead hear a series of "buzzy" tones with little pitch definition. Foghorns near Lizard Point, Cornwall Foghorns are a navigation aid for mariners. ... This is a contrabassoon. ...

Use in classical music

There are few classical works that call specifically for the contrabass saxophone, and even fewer that feature it as a solo instrument. Its use is generally restricted to large ensembles of saxophones. As an example, the eminent saxophonist Sigurd Raschèr (1907-2001) played the instrument in his Raschèr Saxophone Ensemble. Sigurd Manfred Raschèr (15 May 1907 in Elberfeld, Germany - 25 February 2001 in Shushan, New York) was an American saxophonist of German birth. ...

Performers

The contrabass saxophone has more frequently been used as a solo instrument by woodwind players in the genres of jazz and improvised music who are searching for an extreme or otherworldly tone. The difficulty of holding and controlling the instrument (let alone playing it) makes performing on the instrument a somewhat theatrical experience in and of itself. Playing is difficult too; it takes an enormous amount of air to sound notes in the low register.

Very few players make use of the instrument. Players who do include Anthony Braxton, Paul Cohen, Jay C. Easton, Blaise Garza, Marcel W. Helland, Robert J. Verdi, Thomas K. J. Mejer, Scott Robinson, Klaas Hekman, Daniel Gordon, and Daniel Kientzy. It is used by a few saxophone ensembles including the Raschèr Saxophone Orchestra Lörrach[1] and the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra[[2]. Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American composer, multi-reedist and pianist. ... Paul Cohen is an American saxophonist. ... Jay C. Easton performing on Contrabass saxophone Jay C. Easton is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays all sizes of saxophone as well as a variety of other woodwind instruments from around the world. ... Blaise Garrett Garza (born February 10, 1989 in Tampa Bay, Florida) is an American actor and musician. ... Scott Robinson (born April 27, 1959 in New Jersey) is an American jazz musician. ...

See also

• Subcontrabass saxophone
• Tubax

A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right), the closest extant instrument to a subcontrabass saxophone. ... A B-flat subcontrabass tubax (right). ...

External links

• 1. ^ Contrabass saxophone page on the web site of Benedikt Eppelsheim Wind Instrument Company
• Contrabass saxophone page from www.contrabass.com website
• Contrabass saxophone page from Jay C. Easton's web site

Benedikt Eppelsheim is a world-renowned German manufacturer of high- and low-voiced saxophones, the soprillo and tubax, which are available exclusively from him. ... Jay C. Easton performing on Contrabass saxophone Jay C. Easton is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays all sizes of saxophone as well as a variety of other woodwind instruments from around the world. ...

Listening

• "Bahamut" by Hazmat Modine (click "Bahamut" to listen)
• MP3 excerpt of "Polpis Dreaming" by Carson P. Cooman, op. 410 (2002) for contrabass saxophone and piano, performed by Jay C. Easton
• Video of Marcel W. Helland playing a Contrabass Saxophone.