Klarinet Archive - Posting 000261.txt from 1998/09

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] C-straight soprano sax
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 16:12:49 -0400

On Tue, 8 Sep 1998, Grant Green wrote:

> The soprano in C hasn't been made for years, but was originally intended
> by A. Sax as one of the "orchestral" saxophones (along with the F
> sopranino, F alto, C tenor, etc.). I think Ravel's Bolero actually
> calls for F sopranino, C soprano, and C tenor saxes (although these days
> the parts are all played on the modern Eb and Bb counterparts).

Quite right, with only one "quibble" from me. The first saxophone solo in
Bolero was originally written primarily for the sopranino in F. However,
the last few notes of the solo are below the range of that instrument, so
the solo customarily was completed on the soprano in Bb. However, as all
the notes are fairly accessible on the Bb soprano, and the F sopranino is
so rare (and not much fun to play if you could find one) the solo is now
generally played entirely on the Bb soprano.

The second solo, in all the orchestral parts I have ever seen, is for the
Bb tenor. If it had originally been intended for the orchestral version
of the saxophone, in C, that would have been the C melody sax. But, I
have never heard of it being played on that instrument, and have never
heard any indication that it might have been written by Ravel for anything
other than the Bb tenor. Given the intonation on the C melody saxes I
have seen, I hope no one ever gets the bright idea of having the Ravel
solo played on that instrument.

Ed Lacy
*****************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
*****************************************************************

-------------------------------------------------------------------------