"Baritone saxophone, nominal pitch: E♭"

Baritone saxophone, nominal pitch: E♭ | Adolphe Sax | 1861

This is an early set of saxaphones. The earliest saxophones had a wider bore and bell than later models. Purchased in 2004 with assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions (administered for the Government by the National Museums of Scotland), the Pilgrim Trust, the Russell Trust and the Hope Scott Trust.

Baritone saxophone

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Baritone saxophone, nominal pitch: E♭

Alternative Title

Baritone saxophone.

Accession Number

4424

Collection

MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

1861

Period

19th century; 1860s

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 2

Maker Information

Maker Name

Adolphe Sax

Maker Biography

Adolphe Sax (1814-1894) was a Belgium born woodwind and brass instrument maker who started his career working in his father’s workshop, where he demonstrated exceptional skills and craftsmanship. He was a noted inventor and player, with a great deal of literature surrounding his life, with much of it contradictory as he made many enemies throughout his life. Sax was notoriously litigious, and was known to produce his own versions of the ideas of others. Following this, many makers sued Sax, and for the remainder of his life he was involved in a number of litigations. The lawsuits bankrupted him twice – in 1856 and 1873, although he continued to press on with his work despite his financial difficulties. His two main inventions, the saxhorn and the saxophone, have become incredibly well used, both in military situations and as an embodiment of the spirit of ‘The Jazz Age.’

Made In

City

Paris

Country

France

Description

Technical Description

Technical description: brass; fitting for music card holder with lyre attached. Cocus wood mouthpiece with inlaid silver ferrule and brass ligature. Brass thumb rest and loop for neck strap on dorsal side. Bracing between crook and body and body and bell. L0: Two simple octave keys. L1: B₄; D₆; E♭₆. L2: A₄. L3: G₄. L4: G♯₄; B♭₃; B♮₃. R1: F₄; B♭₄. R2: E₄. R3: D₄. R4: E♭₄; C₄. Keymount type: pillars on plates. Keyhead type: modern. Serial number: 21680. Overall size: 1039 from top of crook to bottom of u bend. Sounding length: 2032 (without mouthpiece). Bore: 14.3 at mouthpipe; bell diameter, 201. Inscription on bell "No. 21680 / Saxophone baryton en mi. b. brevete / Adolphe Sax a Paris / Fteur. de la Mson. Milre. de l'Empereur" and monogram AS with "PARIS" in stem of the "S"; on front of bell (upside-down) "1 / 1877". Repair History: The pillar mount of one of the upper keys is unsoldered. Dents in first curve of crook. Spring missing from B b2 key. Usable pitch: from A₄ = 435 Hz to A₄ = 440 Hz, probably made for use at Diapason Normal.

Provenance

Purchased, 2004.

Classification