Choose a saxophone!

Started by Karl Henning, October 15, 2013, 11:52:41 AM

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Which duet to write?

soprano sax & marimba
5 (29.4%)
alto sax & marimba
12 (70.6%)

Total Members Voted: 15

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Karl Henning

October 15, 2013, 11:52:41 AM
Piece for 2014-15. I want opinions!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Brahmsian

#1
October 15, 2013, 11:55:06 AM
alto, all the way!  :)

Cato

#2
October 15, 2013, 11:57:14 AM
Soprano saxophone and marimba, because the alto is too ubiquitous.

Oh yes, and be sure to have the saxophone player shake her cowbell now and then!  0:)

And a helicopter should not be used!  ;)
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Karl Henning

#3
October 15, 2013, 12:02:40 PM
The saxes are neck and neck (wocka wocka!)

Definitely no aircraft!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Brian

#4
October 15, 2013, 12:05:02 PM
Tenor sax! With either Coleman Hawkins or John Coltrane attached.  8)

Karl Henning

#5
October 15, 2013, 12:06:53 PM
In my dreams.  The choice though is driven by performers known to my publisher.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

TheGSMoeller

#6
October 15, 2013, 12:55:45 PM
Soprano!  8)

kyjo

#7
October 15, 2013, 01:06:09 PM
Alto (or better yet, tenor or baritone)! 8)

Dancing Divertimentian

#8
October 15, 2013, 01:08:27 PM
Alto for me. The sound of the soprano sax reminds me too much of 'smooth man' Kenny G. Although commercially that might not be a bad thing. ;)


Veit Bach-a baker who found his greatest pleasure in a little cittern which he took with him even into the mill and played while the grinding was going on. In this way he had a chance to have the rhythm drilled into him. And this was the beginning of a musical inclination in his descendants. JS Bach

TheGSMoeller

#9
October 15, 2013, 03:50:33 PM
Soprano is taking a beating in the poll.  $:)

TheGSMoeller

#10
October 15, 2013, 04:42:19 PM
New suggestion: Baritone Sax & Glockenspiel

Cato

#11
October 15, 2013, 04:49:51 PM
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on October 15, 2013, 01:08:27 PM
Alto for me. The sound of the soprano sax reminds me too much of 'smooth man' Kenny G. Although commercially that might not be a bad thing. ;)

That's part of the point!  Karl's work would be an exorcism of that blonde Beelzebub!   >:D
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Brahmsian

#12
October 15, 2013, 04:50:46 PM
I adore the bass clarinet.....runs and hides....

Alto or baritone sax would fit lovely, I think, with the marimba.

amw

#13
October 15, 2013, 04:55:05 PM
I like the soprano more in combinations, but it's less... saxophoney. Baritone would be the way to go if it were an option.

jochanaan

#14
October 15, 2013, 05:43:16 PM
It could go either way.  Soprano would contrast more with the marimba; alto would blend more...

(For a moment I thought you might be talking Selmer, Conn or Yamaha! :laugh: )
Imagination + discipline = creativity

SonicMan46

#15
October 15, 2013, 07:13:23 PM
Quote from: karlhenning on October 15, 2013, 12:06:53 PM
In my dreams.  The choice though is driven by performers known to my publisher.

Hi Karl - I love all of the 'family' of saxophones but my hearing experience is mainly jazz oriented and I have favs w/ each - voted for an alto sax w/ a marimba, just seemed to blend better, but if contrast is needed then the soprano would be great (BTW, can you get Sidney Bechet for the part? ;)) - BUT, good luck w/ the composition regardless of your choice - I'm sure that you will do well w/ either sax - Dave :)

Dancing Divertimentian

#16
October 15, 2013, 07:49:51 PM
Quote from: Cato on October 15, 2013, 04:49:51 PM
That's part of the point!  Karl's work would be an exorcism of that blonde Beelzebub!   >:D

HA!

True. If it works, a new paradigm!

Veit Bach-a baker who found his greatest pleasure in a little cittern which he took with him even into the mill and played while the grinding was going on. In this way he had a chance to have the rhythm drilled into him. And this was the beginning of a musical inclination in his descendants. JS Bach

mc ukrneal

#17
October 15, 2013, 09:20:00 PM
It really just depends on what kind of piece and sound you want to create. The alto can create lower sounds and can provide more range in certain ways (texture and notes). The soprano can provide more highs and can be more differentiating. It really just depends what you have in mind. The mirimba itself has a wider range, so what you plan for that can be the catalyst for which saxophone to choose. My suggestion would be to go to youtube, enter 'marimba and saxophone', and just listen to the sound of the instruments. You may find this helpful. Both will do whatever you want to do in a satisfactory way.
Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Octave

#18
October 15, 2013, 09:38:29 PM
I understand that the soprano sax is fiendishly difficult to play in tune, maybe partly the result of its being a 'double' instrument much more often than a mainstay.  (Is this true?)  Also the larger body of literature and specialists for the alto.
Of course, all this could decide in favor of the soprano for yr piece.
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david johnson

#19
October 15, 2013, 11:32:13 PM
I believe you'll get more tonal color with the alto/marimba.  of course, you might really be looking for that Kenny G sound!   hmmm...Concerto in G for Kenny?
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