Alto Sax

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 04:53 PM

The thing about saxophones isn't volume.
It's a special quality in the sound; I don't know if "timbre" is the word for it.

From my university days in the practice rooms in the music building,
I have a vivid memory of the sound of a saxophone,
being played softly --
and that sound cut through the walls of
whatever the practice rooms were built of,
like the proverbial hot knife through butter.
Without even being loud.

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: Tunesmith
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 11:55 AM

I recall trying out a Low D whistle in the Manchester Hobgoblin shop, when somebody from the back of the shop let fly on an alto sax.
It was played with such a spectacular tone and volume that I immediately lost interest the whistle.

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 08:45 AM

There is a flat keys session (mainly E flat) at Whitby Folk Week.

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: GUEST,Richard Robinson
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 07:54 AM

"E flat doesn't usually fit with anybody else".

If it wasn't for those pesky strings ... there are saxes, brass, Bb clarinets, GHB (and fiddles, of course). A very loud flat-key session, play everything up a semitone ? It'd probably take a big festival to get enough instruments together.

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: Jack Campin
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 05:09 AM

I use either a C melody tenor or a tárogató (wooden B flat soprano) for klezmer and occasionally elsewhere. A good sax can play very softly, but it takes practice to do it.

Alto is tricky because E flat doesn't usually fit with anybody else.

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: GUEST,captain farrell
Date: 17 Feb 18 - 03:24 PM

Im sure sax would work because they can be fairly quiet if used wisely

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: Andy7
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 05:41 PM

An ex-partner of mine was a sax player, we used to play sax and fiddle duets. But she'd never fetch it along to the folk club.

I still believe a sax would go down well at a folk club, though ... as long as it didn't try to 'accompany' a quiet singer!

Subject: RE: Alto Sax
From: Sue Allan
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 04:44 PM

Played in ceilidh band, but never dared do it in a session (don’t go to any folk clubs)

Subject: Alto Sax
From: GUEST,Captain Farrell
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 03:40 PM

Any one played Alto Sax in folk clubs