Soprano saxophone
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The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument. The soprano is the second in size of the sax family which consists, as generally accepted, (from smallest to largest) of sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, and contrabass. (Benedikt Eppelsheim has constructed a new "Soprillo" saxophone, which sounds an octave above soprano.) Of these, only the soprano through baritone are commonly used. The less tubing an instrument has, the higher it sounds. A transposing instrument pitched in the key of B♭, it plays an octave above the commonly used tenor saxophone. There is also a soprano pitched in C, which is less common.
In bands and orchestras, soprano saxophones are little used, and to an "unenlightened" public, the soprano may seem like a spiffed-up clarinet. The soprano's reputation is a little scarred because some musicians only choose to exploit the high register of the soprano, rather than listen to the low register, which has a clarinet-like warm tone quality. It generally has a louder and more penetrating sound than the clarinet in the extreme high notes. Due to the smaller bore of the soprano, it is less forgiving with respect to intonation, though an experienced player will use alternate fingerings or vary breath support to compensate. Due to its similarity in tone to the instrument, the soprano saxophone is sometimes used as a substitute for the oboe.
Musicians especially known for playing the soprano saxophone include jazz musicians Sidney Bechet, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Joe Farrell, Steve Lacy and Dave Liebman; smooth jazz saxophonists Kenny G and Dave Koz; and Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Fela Kuti.
Two outstanding examples of soprano work are Bechet's "Petite Fleur" and Coltrane's "My Favorite Things".
See also
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