Baritone saxophone

From Freepedia

Image:Baritonesax.jpg The baritone saxophone, one of the larger members of the saxophone family, was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is easily identified by the extra loop near its mouthpiece, which helps to keep the instrument at a practical height (the rare bass saxophone has a similar, but larger loop).

The baritone saxophone (often called "bari sax") is the largest saxophone commonly seen in modern ensembles. The other three are the alto, tenor and soprano. It is in the key of E-flat, one octave lower than the alto saxophone. Despite its low register, music for the baritone saxophone is written in treble clef.

The baritone saxophone is used in classical music (particularly in the saxophone quartet, of which it is a member), but composers have rarely called for it in orchestral music, and it has a comparatively small solo repertoire. It has, however, been an important part of military bands, concert bands, and wind ensembles. In concert bands, it often plays a part similar to that of the tuba. The baritone player usually plays rather simple rhythms in order to maintain the musical pulse of the group. Often, this consists of quarter notes on beats one and three in 4/4 time.

The exceptional weight of the instrument compared to the other three commonly used sizes of saxophone makes it difficult to use in marching bands. Baritone saxophone players in marching groups often use a special harness that distributes the weight of the instrument onto the player's back instead of around his neck, as is the conventional way of supporting the instrument.

The reeds that the baritone saxophone uses are of a similar size to those used for a bass clarinet.

The saxophone family ranges from sopranissimo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass, and subcontrabass.

The fingerings for all of the instruments in the saxophone family are essentially the same and most players play more than one saxophone. The baritone saxophone, however, is the only member of the saxophone family which often possesses a "low A" key (sounding concert C, the same pitch as the lowest note on the cello), whereas most other saxophones descend only to a fingered B-flat (sounding pitch depending on the key of the particular instrument). Many saxophone players also double as flute or clarinet players.

Notable performers

Although few classical saxophonists perform exclusively on the baritone saxophone, a number of jazz performers have used it as their primary instrument. The baritone is an important instrument in the big band, being the largest size of saxophone used in that ensemble (although the bass saxophone was occasionally used up to the 1940s). One of the pioneers was Duke Ellington's longtime baritone player, Harry Carney, who played both accompanying bass lines as well as exuberant solos and improvisations. Since the mid-1950s, master baritone saxophone soloists such as Gerry Mulligan and Pepper Adams achieved fame, and more recent notable performers include Hamiet Bluiett (who also plays bass saxophone) and John Surman (who doubles on soprano). A noted British performer is Joe Temperley, actually a Scotsman, who has appeared with Humphrey Lyttelton as well as with the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra. Joe also plays soprano sax and bass clarinet.

Interesting facts

• In the 1970s, a jazz band called the Baritone Saxophone Retinue consisted of between six and ten baritone saxophones, backed up by a rhythm section. A similar group, the International Baritone Conspiracy, which featured six baritones, was formed in the 1990s.
• American jazz baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett leads the Bluiett Baritone Nation (formerly called the Bluiett Baritone Saxophone Group), a saxophone quartet made up entirely of baritone saxophones, with drum set accompaniment.
• Nigerian Afrobeat singer, musician, and bandleader Fela Kuti typically featured two baritone saxophone players in his band (most American jazz big bands feature only one).
• In the 1985 documentary film Bring on the Night, Branford Marsalis discusses how much he disliked playing the baritone saxophone while on tour in Europe with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers during the summer of 1980.
• Lisa Simpson, a character in the cartoon televison show The Simpsons, plays the baritone saxophone.