Evening star., 1940-03-03

doubie-DaSS. ana called "COpcertinc
da Camera" but with the strings
augmented to orchestra size, it is
adapted for use in q large hall.
About q year ago the saxophone
was the subject of q controversy
In New York City. A high school
student appealed to the Deputy
Mayor for advice as to his right
to practice the saxophone in face
Of the neighbors' threats to call the
police to stop him. The Deputy
Mayor replied with some fervor that
the "saxophone was . dangerous
instrument" and that "Toscanini
would not give a saxophone even
standing room OF behind the harp"
He advised the boy to study the
cello and offered him IS toward
buying one. In his letter the
Deputy Mayor further said that
there is something about q saxo-
phone that makes the most ordinary
people either burst into tears OF
cheerfully do murder"
Stand Of Musicians.
It was then that musicians of the
city and particularly Of the broad
casting company entered into the
dispute and pointed out that Tos-
canini had used two saxophonists,
not behind the harp, but in the
front row Of the woodwinds, not
so long ago in q performance Of
Ravel's "Bolero," and that many
composers had included q saxo-
phone in the orchestral distribution
In their works, notably Richard
Strauss, who wrote for four saxo-
phones in his Domestic SYM
phony";; Berlioz, who uses it In
'L'Arlesienne," and Krenek, in hi,
opera "Jonny Spielt Auf," and, OF
course, Debussy In his Rhapsody
for Saxophone and Orchestra" also
to be heard on today's program
Meyerbeer, Ambrose Thomas and
Berlioz felt the need of this instru-
ment's tonal quality in the or
chestra.
Nevertheless, the Deputy Mayors
feeling toward the saxophone Is
shared by many. With artists OF
sincere intentions using it to more
musical ends it will not be long
until its finest qualities will be uni
versally recognized. The arguments
for and against the saxophone have
waged fiercely for years and the
result has been a loss to the more
serious music and the almost ex-
elusive adoption of it into the realm
of dance music.
Yet the need of Just such an
instrument in the orchestra has
been felt for long time and ad-
vocated by such masters of Or
chestral coloring as Berlioz. II
renders a midway service between
the woodwinds and the brass, and
by this means can enrich the COM
poser's palette and add a new tint
to the orchestral tone. Modern
composers - are feeling their way
more and more in the use Of the
saxophone, and already much has
been accomplished, yet its greatest
effectiveness can be achieved only
when there is a complete under
standing of its technique, its color
and its ability for the creation OF
mood.
Requires Great Skill.
While there is progress being made
in the employment of the saxophone
In the orchestra as solo instrument
of concert caliber, it has been but
mildly pushed forward. More has
been written for it in ensemble form
than as a solo performer. Perhaps
one of the reasons for this IS the
lack of serious musicians on this in
strument, for the saxophone, while
easy to play, requires unusual skill
to play well. 1t is capable OF amaz-
ing agility and lovely variety OF
sweet, If aloof, tone. It's haunting
beauty, however, must be handled by
an artist whose knowledge and re-
spect for his instrument guide his
playing of it. When such one is
the performer, infinite variety can
be brought into its tone quite unlike
the ordinary stridency or buffoonery
usually associated with it.
The faith of the inventor, Adolph
Sax, in the ultimate success Of the
saxophone and appreciation Of its
musical possibilities, led him to fight
jealousy for 1t and guard his rights
to every bit of its popularity. A
gifted son of q gifted father, his
name goes down in history for the
that he devised for
wind instruments. The genius of
the father must have been excep-
tional for he began his career as q
cabinet maker with only a mediocre
knowledge of music. From this me-
beginning he went on to
wind instruments and soon
became known. Tor his clarinets and
bassoons. His son, who was later to
find fame as the inventor Of the
followed in his fathers
footsteps with the difference that he
was well grounded in music at the
Conservatory and an excep-
tional player of the clarinet.
Won Many Medals.
He could not resist his bent for
all the instruments that
he was interested in besides invent
ing new principles which he applied
in many unique ways. He had no
money but plenty Of initiative, maxi
ing friends of influential people and
ably advertising his instruments. He
won many medals at various exhibi-
tions and soon had q large place of
business and the recognition of great
who helped him with their
encouragement.
His most important instrument,
the saxophone, has had q hard
climb upward. Having first held
in the French military
bands, 1t gradually came to the fore
as . swing music Interpreter par
Emerging from that
state, 1t now bids fair to be &C.
claimed as . legitimate concert in
strument and may there reign with
success as composers turn
their attention to writing especially
for It. a.