Sassofono

As Printed on a Score

Labels a saxophone staff with its size and usually its key — Sassofono contralto in Mi♭, tenore in Si♭; German scores print Saxophon, French Saxophone, abbreviated Sax. All saxophones are written in treble clef and transpose: soprano a whole step down, alto a major sixth down, tenor a major ninth down, baritone an octave and a major sixth down.

Abbreviations: Sax.

Also spelled: Saxofono, Saxophone, Saxophon, Saxophones

How Composers Use It

Patented by Adolphe Sax in 1846, the saxophone entered the orchestra as an occasional color: Bizet’s L’Arlésienne, Ravel’s Boléro and his orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Its tone can be sweet and vocal or raw and loud, and it blends with both woodwinds and brass. In orchestral writing name the size, give a solo plenty of room, and remember the player may double clarinet.

Example

Ravel, Boléro: the score’s staff label “Sax. T.” marks the tenor saxophone, one of the instruments Ravel gives a statement of the tune.