Saxonette
Encyclopedia
A saxonette is a soprano clarinet
in C, A, or B that has both a curved barrel and an upturned bell, both usually made of metal. It has the approximate overall shape of a saxophone
, but unlike that instrument it has a cylindrical bore
and overblows
by a twelfth. The instrument is also known as the 'Claribel' and 'Clariphon'.
Saxonettes were first produced by the Buescher Band Instrument Company
between 1918 and 1921. They are almost always simple (Albert
) system, and most are in C. It is known that they were made in B and A also, and Boehm system
examples exist as well. Several stencils have also turned up that can be shown as being the same as Buescher models already in existence. Among these are the 'Supertone' and the 'Gretsch'.
Other than the barrel and bell, there is no difference between a saxonette and a soprano clarinet (of the same fingering system). In fact, some manufacturers sold instruments having both clarinet- and saxonette-style barrels and bells.
The curvature of the bell has little effect on the sound of the instrument. In particular, very few notes on a woodwind instrument vent through the bell, so its effect on most notes is negligible. Switching from a straight wood barrel to a curved metal one is more likely to influence the instrument's sound for several reasons: differences between metal and wood resonances, likely differences in variation of the cross sectional area of the bore, and differences in the player's embouchure
due to the different angle of the mouthpiece with respect to the body of the instrument. Perhaps the main reason for preferring a saxonette to a straight clarinet is visual: the saxonette looks distinctive and unusual.
Several examples have surfaced in recent years, notably one by Buescher in C in the Boehm system. This was sold on eBay
early 2005. There is one other Boehm system on the Internet, on a Japanese page (now offline), that looks very different from that already found.
Curved bells and barrels have also been sold as aftermarket accessories.
Soprano clarinet
The soprano clarinets are a sub-family of the clarinet family.The B clarinet is by far the most common type of soprano clarinet - the unmodified word "clarinet" usually refers to this instrument...
in C, A, or B that has both a curved barrel and an upturned bell, both usually made of metal. It has the approximate overall shape of a 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...
, but unlike that instrument it has a cylindrical bore
Bore (wind instruments)
The bore of a wind instrument is its interior chamber that defines a flow path through which air travels and is set into vibration to produce sounds. The shape of the bore has a strong influence on the instruments' timbre.-Bore shapes:...
and overblows
Overblowing
Overblowing A technique used while playing a wind instrument which, primarily through manipulation of the supplied air , causes the sounded pitch to jump to a higher one...
by a twelfth. The instrument is also known as the 'Claribel' and 'Clariphon'.
Saxonettes were first produced by the Buescher Band Instrument Company
Buescher Band Instrument Company
The Buescher Band Instrument Company was a manufacturer of musical instruments in Elkhart, Indiana.-History:The company was founded by Ferdinand August "Gus" Buescher . He accompanied his family to Goshen, Indiana and then to Elkhart in 1875. In 1876 he found employment with C.G...
between 1918 and 1921. They are almost always simple (Albert
Albert system
The Albert system refers to a system of clarinet keywork and fingering developed by Eugène Albert. In the United Kingdom it is known as the simple system. It has been largely replaced by the Boehm system ....
) system, and most are in C. It is known that they were made in B and A also, and Boehm system
Boehm system (clarinet)
The Boehm system for the clarinet is a system of clarinet keywork, developed between 1839 and 1843 by Hyacinthe Klosé and Auguste Buffet jeune. The name is somewhat deceptive; the system was inspired by Theobald Boehm's system for the flute, but necessarily differs from it, since the clarinet...
examples exist as well. Several stencils have also turned up that can be shown as being the same as Buescher models already in existence. Among these are the 'Supertone' and the 'Gretsch'.
Other than the barrel and bell, there is no difference between a saxonette and a soprano clarinet (of the same fingering system). In fact, some manufacturers sold instruments having both clarinet- and saxonette-style barrels and bells.
The curvature of the bell has little effect on the sound of the instrument. In particular, very few notes on a woodwind instrument vent through the bell, so its effect on most notes is negligible. Switching from a straight wood barrel to a curved metal one is more likely to influence the instrument's sound for several reasons: differences between metal and wood resonances, likely differences in variation of the cross sectional area of the bore, and differences in the player's embouchure
Embouchure
The embouchure is the use of facial muscles and the shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece of woodwind instruments or the mouthpiece of the brass instruments.The word is of French origin and is related to the root bouche , 'mouth'....
due to the different angle of the mouthpiece with respect to the body of the instrument. Perhaps the main reason for preferring a saxonette to a straight clarinet is visual: the saxonette looks distinctive and unusual.
Several examples have surfaced in recent years, notably one by Buescher in C in the Boehm system. This was sold on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
early 2005. There is one other Boehm system on the Internet, on a Japanese page (now offline), that looks very different from that already found.
Curved bells and barrels have also been sold as aftermarket accessories.
External links
- http://hem.passagen.se/eriahl/saxonette.htm - a page devoted to the saxonette.
- Paraschos, a manufacturer of curved (wooden) clarinet barrels