Hearts of Space #1035 SAXOPHONIC 7-Feb-2014 320kbps MP3

Woodwinds and horns, ladies and gentlemen. Well, to be more precise, woodwinds and brasswinds. The brass family served an important function in musical history: when compared to most other instruments they were LOUD, and well-matched to drums and percussion when it came to cutting through the competition. Put them together and you have the ever-popular marching band.



Others preferred their music quieter and more subtle. For them, there was a mellower class of woodwinds, including flutes and the reed family: oboes, clarinets, English horns, and one that ran the gamut from quiet to loud, subtle to brash: the saxophone.



It was named for one ADOLPHE SAX, a Belgian-born, Paris-based instrument maker determined to fill the gap between the projection of a brass instrument and the responsiveness of a woodwind. When it was introduced in 1846, there were no less than 14 versions, from tiny to huge. Today only the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone versions are common.



In the 20th century, the saxophone became an instrument of choice for jazz soloists, and from there migrated into mainstream Rhythm & Blues and even Rock. With this history, it takes a very different kind of musician to use it for Ambient music.