 | The bass saxophone is similar in design to a baritone saxophone, but it is larger, with a longer loop near the mouthpiece. Unlike the baritone, the bass saxophone is not commonly used. While some composers did write parts for the instrument through the early twentieth century (such as Percy Grainger in Lincolnshire Posy), the bass sax part in today's wind bands is usually handled by the tuba, or in jazz and other popular-music bands by the double bass or electric bass, all of which have a lower range. In the 1920s, the bass saxophone was often used in early jazz recordings, since it was at that time much easier to record compared to the tuba or double bass. The photo (Courtesy of http://www.jayeaston.com/) shows a B♭ bass saxophone made by Adolphe Sax in 1876 (right) and a baritone saxophone made by Sax in 1858. |
| Although originally available in either B♭ or C (the latter for orchestral use), the modern bass saxophone is pitched in B♭, a perfect fourth lower than the baritone, and thus the same as the B♭ contrabass clarinet. Music for bass sax is written in treble clef, just as for the other saxophones, but it sounds two octaves and a major second lower than written. Like the other members of the saxophone family, the lowest written note is B♭ below the staff — for bass saxophone, this note is a concert A♭ in the first octave (~ 51.9 Hz). In the genres of rock and funk, Angelo Moore of the American band Fishbone plays bass saxophone. In the 1960s, Rodney Slater used the instrument in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, as did Ralph Carney of the avant-garde rock band Tin Huey. John Linnell of They Might Be Giants and Dana Colley of Morphine also play the bass saxophone on occasion. | |
Compare a Martin from 1921 and a Conn 14M Ladyface with rolled toneholes and keyed till high F Bass Sax in Tunesia - Japan Jazz Festival Ocean Blue Paul Fleisher Van Dijk Bass Saxophone Concerto 2nd Movement - Andreas van Zoelen Prev Top Next |
