Alto Saxophone
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 Conn alto saxophone model 6M naked female bust original laquer from 1946  US $1,750.00
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 Selmer USA AS200 100 Alto Saxophone US $157.50
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 Rico Alto Sax Reed 3 ½ 25 Count US $35.99
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 15 Fav Hymns Alto Sax Solo CD Pethel Unused US $8.99
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The Role of the Saxophone Section in a Big Band
The saxophone section in a big band consists of 5 players - two altos, two tenors and one baritone sax. In a traditional big band setup, the saxes are located in the first (front) row of three rows of horn players. The trombones and trumpets are found in the rows directly behind the saxes.
Saxophones are considered agile instruments, much like the clarinet and flute. They are able to play fast lines or perform effects that cannot be achieved so easily on a brass instrument. This characteristic gives them the ability to cover very fast passages within the ensemble - passages that would be too difficult for the brass section to pull off.
Melodic Roles
Saxophones are often called on to state the melody of a big band composition or arrangement. Playing in unison gives them the power to cut through punches and harmony played by the brass section. When stating the melody as a section (i.e. 4-5 part voicings) the lead alto player must project the lead line so it can be heard above other instrumental activity going on within the arrangement at any given time.
Saxes can also be coupled with other instruments to create a homogeneous sound. Altos are often combined with trumpet, while tenor saxes are most often found sharing a melody with one or more trombones. These melodic couplings work well because the timbre of trumpet and trombone are similar to the alto and tenor respectively. Baritone sax at times plays melody alone, or coupled with bass trombone.
Harmonic Roles
Because the sax section covers a wide range, it lends itself well to supplying harmony and harmonic "pads" to a big band arrangement or composition. In ballads, for example, the saxes are often written as lush voicings that provide all the necessary notes of a chord. They are used in this manner within an arrangement as background to a soloist, or as counter melody to another instrument.
Solos and Solis
The tenor saxophone is one of the more popular solo instruments in jazz, so it only makes sense that tenor solos are written quite regularly throughout the big band music repertoire. Although any of the saxes are called upon at one time or another for solos, the tenor seems to get more improvised solos than the others. Baritone sax solos are written sparingly throughout big band literature. Depending on the level of skill of the players, solo sections can be passed around so that good soloists - even bari sax players - have a chance to shine.
Sax solis occur when the saxophone section is featured by itself by playing a composed jazz "solo". A soli is most often composed in four or five part harmony that is voiced for the entire section. The lead line is played by Alto 1, while the rest of the section is voiced below the lead line and follows in rhythmic unison. In a four part setting, the bari sax player will often double the alto melody at the octave.
The saxophone section is an integral part of any big band in a variety of ways. Brass players may complain that the saxophones are written too many solos, but it is hard to beat a terrific saxophone section ripping through a difficult Thad Jones or Don Menza soli. As they say, if you can't beat them, join them!
About the Author
To listen and view scores for a variety of big band charts that feature saxophone, visit http://www.pdfjazzmusic.com
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Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Case $79.99 Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Case |
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Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone $1599 Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone |
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Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Swab $5.99 Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Swab |
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Bundy Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece $39.99 Bundy Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece |
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Giardinelli Gs512 Alto Saxophone $1599 Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone |
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Bois Classique Saxophone Ligature Alto Saxophone $20.99 Bois Classique Saxophone Ligature Alto Saxophone |
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Yamaha YAS-480 Intermediate Eb Alto Saxophone Alto Saxophone $1996.99 Yamaha YAS-480 Intermediate Eb Alto Saxophone Alto Saxophone |
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Yamaha YAS-26 Standard Eb Alto Saxophone Alto Saxophone $1868 Yamaha YAS-26 Standard Eb Alto Saxophone Alto Saxophone |
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K&M Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand $37.99 K&M Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand |
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Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone 886830185090 $1439.1 Giardinelli GS512 Alto Saxophone 886830185090 |
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Gard Saxophone Gig Bag Alto $39.99 Gard Saxophone Gig Bag Alto |
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Jupiter 2069 XO Alto Saxophone $1799.99 Jupiter 2069 XO Alto Saxophone |
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Meyer Standard Alto Saxophone Ligature $5.99 Meyer Standard Alto Saxophone Ligature |
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Yanagisawa A-901 Artist Alto Saxophone $2679 Yanagisawa A-901 Artist Alto Saxophone |
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Yanagisawa A-992 Bronze Alto Saxophone $4129 Yanagisawa A-992 Bronze Alto Saxophone |
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Giardinelli Cordura Alto Saxophone Bag $39.99 Giardinelli Cordura Alto Saxophone Bag |
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Yanagisawa 902 Bronze Alto Saxophone $3179 Yanagisawa 902 Bronze Alto Saxophone |
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Jupiter 869SG Artist Alto Saxophone $1699 Jupiter 869SG Artist Alto Saxophone |
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Rico Padgard Alto Saxophone Swab $11.49 Rico Padgard Alto Saxophone Swab |
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Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Care Kit $14.99 Giardinelli Alto Saxophone Care Kit |
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Yamaha 4C Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece $23.49 Yamaha 4C Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece |
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Giardinelli Alto / Tenor Saxophone Lyre $4.99 Giardinelli Alto / Tenor Saxophone Lyre |
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Jupiter 767GL Deluxe Alto Saxophone $1359 Jupiter 767GL Deluxe Alto Saxophone |
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Rico Saxophone Neck Savers Alto $4.99 Rico Saxophone Neck Savers Alto |
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Yamaha 5C Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece $24.49 Yamaha 5C Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece |
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K&M Midge Alto Saxophone Stand $35.99 K&M Midge Alto Saxophone Stand |
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Leblanc 2204 Alto Saxophone Ligature $11.99 Leblanc 2204 Alto Saxophone Ligature |
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Yamaha YAC1607 Alto Saxophone Ligature $10.99 Yamaha YAC1607 Alto Saxophone Ligature |
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Giardinelli Student Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece $19.99 Giardinelli Student Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece |
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Bundy Plastic Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece $20.99 Bundy Plastic Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece |
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Yamaha Yac1607 Alto Saxophone Ligature $10.99 Yamaha YAC1607 Alto Saxophone Ligature |