Klarinet Archive - Posting 000342.txt from 1994/02

From: "Jay Heiser, Product Manager, Govt Systems" <jayh@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: F and C saxophones
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 1994 10:13:00 -0500

-->From sco.sco.com!vtbit.cc.vt.edu!vccscent.bitnet!klarinet Wed Feb 23 08:59:39
1994
-->Date: Wed, 23 Feb 1994 14:50:57 +0100
-->Reply-To: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.se>
-->Sender: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network
<KLARINET%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.EDU>
-->From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
-->Subject: Re: F and C saxophones
-->To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
<KLARINET%VCCSCENT.BITNET@-----.EDU>
-->In-Reply-To: <199402231211.NAA04523@-----.se>
-->Message-ID: <9402230609.aa05920@-----.COM>
-->
-->On Tue, 22 Feb 1994, Michael B. Favreau wrote:
-->
-->> Cary,
-->>
-->> Any comments on the F alto? Cary and I differ a little in opinion but,
-->> it is my understanding that saxes were alternately pitched in C/F and Bb/Eb
-->> with the former being designed for orchestral playing and the latter being
-->> designed for military band playing. Watch out for them regarding pitch,
-->> they're pretty old.
-->
-->Sax's initial idea was, indeed, for there to be an Eb/Bb set for wind
-->band use and an F/C set for orchestral use. This notion seems to have
-->been pretty much stillborn but U.S. manufacturers dusted it off during
-->the 1910's and 20's. C-sopranos and C-tenors from this period are still
-->pretty easy to come by but F-altos are quite rare. It's no surprise that
-->Jordan was asked to try and obtain the thing on behalf of several of us.
-->These instruments are eagerly sought by collectors.
-->
-->The big problem with both F and C instruments is that appropriate
-->mouthpieces can be very difficult to locate. Substituting the closest Eb
-->or Bb mouthpiece rarely provides adequate results, contributing, perhaps
-->unfairly, to the bad reputation that these horns have. Mouthpieces for
-->C-tenors ("C melody") saxophones are in current production and several
-->vaudeville saxophone revivalists have released recordings of the highest
-->musical quality. The most prominent of these is probably Leo van Oostrom.
-->
-->If anyone is curious about the historical item, listen to Frank
-->Trumbauer's recordings on the C-melody. He played with Bix Beiderbecke
-->and recordings featuring his virtuoso hijinks are therefore quite easy to
-->find. I don't know of any evidence for the other F and C saxophones
-->having had any significant musical impact.
Rudy Wiedoft played C melody also. I've forgotten his name (someone on
the group must know who I'm talking about), but somebody has put together
a terrific tribute to Rudy that includes narrative, slide show, and of
course performance. I recommend it. Its fun & informative. Its hard
to imagine how significant the sax was in the 20s.

I'm having some photos copied right now of my grandfather in several
sax ensembles. He went to some academy in MN or WI before WW I and
played in a sax choir there. The photo shows what appears to be a
bari, two tenors, a C melody, two altos, a curved soprano, and something
smaller but still curved (my grandfather was still on the short side,
and the players were apparently assigned instruments based on hight).
I'm guessing this is an F Sopranino.

Would there have been a lot of music available for a group like this?

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Ice is just about gone. Ambitious
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month ago. I did not.