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Bass saxhorn in B-flat

Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France
1863
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 680
This instrument features several innovations by Sax, including his six independant valve system and a pavillon tournant, or moveable bell that can be adjusted by the player to direct the sound of the instrument. Sax’s system of six independent valves was devised to correct the intonation problems of typical three-valve instruments, which can sound out of tune when valves are used in combination. Sax made a wide range of instruments with this system, including saxhorns, trombones, trumpets, cornets and horns. Saxhorns like this were featured in the Banda, or stage band of the Paris Opéra that Sax formed and directed from 1847 to 1892.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bass saxhorn in B-flat
  • Maker: Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, Dinant, Belgium 1814–1894 Paris)
  • Date: 1863
  • Geography: Paris, France
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Brass
  • Dimensions: 32 1/2 × 19 × 8 in. (82.6 × 48.3 × 20.3 cm)
    Diameter (Of bell): 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm)
  • Classification: Aerophone-Lip Vibrated
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of André Mertens, 1993
  • Object Number: 1993.164
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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Transverse Flute in D
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Contrabass Saxhorn in E-flat
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax
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Fanfare trumpet in E-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France, Brass, French
Fanfare trumpet in E-flat
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax
1856
Soprano saxophone in B-Flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France, unplated brass, wood, French
Soprano saxophone in B-Flat
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax
1882
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat, Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax Belgian, active France, Brass, French
Soprano ophicleide in B-flat
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