Saxhorn
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- For the anti-tank missile, see AT-7 Saxhorn.
The Saxhorn Family
The saxhorns form a family of seven instruments (although at one point ten different sizes seem to have existed). Designed for band use, they are pitched alternately in E♭ and B♭, like the saxophone group. There was a parallel family built in F and C for orchestral use, but this seems to have died out.There is much confusion as to nomenclature of the various instruments in different languages. This has been exacerbated by the debate as to whether the saxhorn family was truly new, or rather a development of members of the previously existing cornet and tuba families.
The following table shows the identical and/or related instrument in current French, UK, US, German and Italian usage:
| Original Name | Key | Transposition | France | UK | US | Germany | Italy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saxhorn soprano | E♭ | up; min. 3rd | Bugle soprano | Soprano in E♭ | Flügelhorn piccolo in Es | Flicorno sopranino in mi♭ | |
| C | at pitch | Flügelhorn in C | |||||
| Saxhorn contralto | B♭ | down; maj. 2nd | Bugle contralto | Alto in B♭ | Flugelhorn in B♭ | Flügelhorn in B | Flicorno soprano in si♭ |
| F | down; perf. 5th | Althorn in F | Flicorno contralto in fa | ||||
| Saxhorn tenor | E♭ | down; maj. 6th | Alto mi♭ | Tenor Horn in E♭ | Alto Horn in E♭ | Althorn in Es | Flicorno contralto in mi♭ |
| C | down; 8ve | Tenorhorn in C | |||||
| Saxhorn baryton | B♭ | down; 8ve+maj. 2nd | Baryton | Baritone Horn in B♭ | Tenor in B♭ | Tenorhorn in B♭ | Flicorno tenore in si♭ |
| Saxhorn basse | B♭ | down; 8ve+maj. 2nd | Saxhorn | Euphonium / Tenor Tuba* | Baritone | Baritonhorn in B | Flicorno baritono in si♭ / Bombardino |
| F | down; 8ve+perf. 5th | Basstuba in F* | Flicorno basso grave in fa | ||||
| Saxhorn contrebasse | E♭ | down; 8ve + maj. 6th | Tuba basse* | Bass Tuba in E♭ | Bass in E♭ | Flicorno basso grave in mi♭ / Bombardone* | |
| C | down; 2 8ves | Contrabass Tuba in C* | Contrabass in CC* | Kontrabasstuba in C* | Flicorno contrabasso in do | ||
| Saxhorn contrebasse
| B♭ | down; 2 8ves + maj. 6th | Tuba contre-basse* | Contrabass Tuba in B♭* | Contrabass in BB♭* | Kontrabasstuba in B* | Flicorno contrabasso in si♭ |
- In orchestral use, instruments marked with an asterisk are normally written at concert pitch in bass clef.
History
Developed during the mid to late 1830s, the saxhorn family was patented in Paris in 1845 by Adolphe Sax. Sax's claim to have invented the instrument was hotly contested by other brass instrument makers during his lifetime, leading to various lawsuits. Throughout the mid-1850s, he continued to experiment with the instrument's valve pattern.
Saxhorns were popularized by the distinguished Distin Quintet, who toured Europe during the mid-nineteenth 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-1800s.
The saxhorn was the most common brass instrument in American Civil War bands.
A contemporary work featuring this instrument is Desire Dondeyne's "Tubissimo", for bass tuba or saxhorn and piano (1983).
References
External links
- [Saxhorn, Euphonium and Tuba site (in French)]
- [OTS Saxhorns] describes over-the-shoulder saxhorns
- [Dodworth Saxhorn Band]
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