The C soprano saxophone is a member of the saxophone

Saxophone

The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...

 family and is closely related to the B soprano saxophone

Soprano saxophone

The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...

, whose shape it resembles. However, there is an important difference between them: as with the C melody saxophone

C melody saxophone

The C melody saxophone is a saxophone pitched in the key of C, one whole step above the tenor saxophone. In the UK it is sometimes referred to as a "C tenor", and in France as a "tenor en ut". The C melody was part of the series of saxophones pitched in C and F, intended by the instrument's...

, the C soprano is not a transposing instrument

Transposing instrument

A transposing instrument is a musical instrument for which written notes are read at a pitch different from the corresponding concert pitch, which a non-transposing instrument, such as a piano, would play. Playing a written C on a transposing instrument will produce a note other than concert C...

. As a result, it is possible to directly read any printed music intended for piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 or violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

, so long as the music falls within the range of the C soprano itself i.e. is not too high or low.

In the early 20th century, the C soprano (pitched a whole step above the B soprano saxophone) was marketed to those who wished to perform oboe

Oboe

The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...

 parts in military band

Military band

A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...

, vaudeville

Vaudeville

Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...

 arrangements, or church hymnals. As can be seen from the accompanying photograph, C sopranos can be easily confused with B sopranos because they are the same shape, and the size difference between them is only around 3 centimeters. However, C soprano saxophones usually have a "C" stamped on them, close to where the serial number appears. Manufacturers of C melody soprano saxophones were the same companies that made C melody

C melody saxophone

The C melody saxophone is a saxophone pitched in the key of C, one whole step above the tenor saxophone. In the UK it is sometimes referred to as a "C tenor", and in France as a "tenor en ut". The C melody was part of the series of saxophones pitched in C and F, intended by the instrument's...

 instruments e.g. Conn and others. As with C melody instruments, production of C sopranos commenced circa 1919 and ended around 1929. Currently, a company called AquilaSax makes C soprano saxophones, but their production is on hold. They expect that "production should begin again early 2011."

Mouthpieces

It can be difficult to find a purpose-made mouthpiece for C soprano instruments. However, a small chamber B soprano saxophone mouthpiece usually gives good results e.g. Dukoff, Selmer (short shank) and modern Otto Link (metal) STMs. Some experimentation may be required due to potential intonation problems.

In classical music

It was used by Richard Strauss

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...

 in his Sinfonia Domestica, where included in the music are parts for four saxophones including a soprano saxophone in C.