Saxophone: The Underappreciated Beauty

Image provided by Google Images.

What do you think of when you think of a full sympohony orchestra? The first thing that comes to mind for most people is the violin. Then follows the viola and the cello, and that giant thing--what was that called?--ah, the string bass. Occasionally, you'll add in a harp. After you've thought through all the string instruments, you'll move on to the trombones and trumpets, flutes and clarinets. Of course you can't forget the tubas, either. Those are the basics. Then you'll continue on to the more obscure instruments--the oboe, the bassoon, the bass clarinet. Finally, you move on to the percussion. The timpani is always the most popular, followed by the snare drum and the cymbals. Then the auxilary percussion: the vibes and the bells and the ever-popular triangle. Once you're finished, you are proud of yourself. You can name all of the instruments in a symphony orchestra, yay. But what is missing? Oh yeah, that one instrument, what is that called? A saxophone.

As a sax player, yes, I am slightly biast. That being said, I do support the claim that we saxophone players and the saxophones themselves do not get enough credit. In most symphony orchestras, there are no saxophones. And yes, saxophones do have their calling: they play the lead role in jazz bands. But what's so great about a trumpet, anyway? They only have 3 keys. A saxophone has 23. Take that trumpets. If a trumpet can play a duel role, why can't a saxophone?

The saxophone has to be the beastliest (is that even a word?!) instrument out there. I mean, saxes can play high, like a woodwind, and low, like a brass instrument. Their range is nearly three octaves. It's that middle alto voice that is completely essential to any group of instruments. It is a blending instrument, used to smooth out the sharp contrast between woodwind and brass. But that's not all. It is also a solo instrument, beautiful in all three octaves and blends perfectly with all different types of saxophones. Can a trumpet do that? 


Imagine a choir, then take out the altos and the tenors. Imagine a cheeseburger, then take out the burger and the cheese. Imagine a taco, then take out the meat. Imagine a caramel-filled chocolate bar, then take out the caramel. Imagine a dance party, then take out the music. Imagine the ocean, then take out the water. That is what a band would be without the saxophones. Lifeless.

So why are saxophones so oppressed and rejected? It's simple, they are young. The classical flutes, trumpets, and tubas don't want to give up any of their fame and fortune. They want all the attention. And I hate to break it to you guys, but the saxophones are stealing it anyway.