Where's the sax?!

📷@_curtisperry

Saxophones are widely beloved - just ask Lisa Simpson. Beyond the instrumental pillars that are the piano, guitar, drums and violin, the saxophone was listed as the most popular instrument to play, according to a 2022 poll of 2000 Americans.  However, despite this strong enthusiasm, and astonishment of audiences everywhere - including this writer, the saxophone is often absent from orchestras. 

To begin, the principal reason is that the saxophone is a much younger instrument than many of its classical peers, like the piano or violin. Many of the greatest classical works were created before the saxophone ever existed, including those during both the Baroque (1600-1760) and Classical (1730-1820) periods. The sax would be a later addition to the instrumental library, first patented in Paris in 1846 by its inventor Adolphe Sax. 

Moreover, the saxophone was constructed differently than other instruments. Rather than the typical process of manufacturers buying pre-made parts and fasting them together to make an instrument, Sax himself made all the parts for a saxophone. As a result, manufacturers were not happy and convinced orchestral friends to object to the inclusion of a saxophone in their orchestras. Additionally, many places banned the inclusion of the saxophone. 

While success in Europe was thus limited, it found more popular usage through vaudeville and ragtime, which laid the groundwork for dance orchestras and eventually jazz in the United States. Given this history, modern orchestral composers may have a hesitation to avoid incorporating the saxophone, given its so strongly associated with other types of music. 

Nevertheless, that has not stopped some. Some classical composers did include the saxophone in their orchestral repertoire, such as Mussorgsky in his "The Old Castle" or Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances" alto sax solo. Hector Berlioz, who was one of the instruments' pioneering champions, called it "the most beautiful low voice known to this day." Nowadays, saxophones have increased their presence in orchestral works, through jazz-influenced pieces like Gershwin or to composers who simply loved the instrument, such as Ravel.  

While the saxophone may never find a permanent seat in the orchestra, it is being used increasingly thanks to new repertoire, audiences demand and the desire to create more unique and original programming. If you love the saxophone, as we do, be sure to check out our concerts. You're likely to spot a few up there.