Ralph Morgan's Saxophone Journal Articles

[Roger Aldridge]

Ralph Morgan asked me to post a message about this on the Forum....

Ralph is working with an editor to compile around 39 or 40 articles that were written for the Saxophone Journal into a 5 volume book. Ralph told me that he's adding new information, diagrams, measurements, etc to some of the articles.

Personally, I can't wait to get my hands on these articles! They are going to cover a lot of ground. Ralph is looking at and end-of-year target date for availability.

[gary]

Roger - I'm sure there will be interest, but if you're in close contact with Ralph...is Five Volumes practical? I would question if there are many who would be willing to purchase a five-volume set. This is in no way meant to undervalue the project, but I just wonder if it's viable. Average cost of a book these days must be around $24.00 (and that's not "text books" into which category this might fall) bringing his set to a minimum of $120.00 minus handling and shipping. What is his target customer and is he aiming to make a profit as well as making this information accessible?

As one who read many of his articles and respect his experience and insight, I respectfully suggest that it might be a more effective project to consolidate them, even if that means some tough editorial weeding-out, into one relatively affordable volume.

I mean no disrespect and hope this doesn't seem presumptious. It's just that, as an admirer, I feel it's fair to him to voice these questions. I would really be surprised if, at that price, he gets much positive reaction. He gets the last vote, of course.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I have been going back through old issues and re-reading his articles and they're very interesting. Ralph mentioned this the last time I talked to him and I know I'll pick up a copy when he's done with it.

Did he ever do the videos?

[Roger Aldridge]

I don't have any specific information about Ralph's writings such as the cost of each volume. When I spoke with Ralph yesterday it was actually about the latest c-melody mouthpiece I received from him. But, then he told me about the work going on to edit and publish his articles that originally appeared in the Saxophone Journal a number of years ago. He mentioned one article that goes into the connection between Adolphe Sax and Selmer. The impression that I got from Ralph is that the articles will cover A LOT of ground regarding saxophones, saxophone companies, saxophone history...and certainly mouthpieces.

One reason why Ralph asked me to post a notice about this on the Forum is so that we will bug him (as Ralph described) to keep his nose to the grindstone to get this work finished. This is information that Ralph wants to have passed along to others.

Anyway, that's all that I know about this. Ralph will announce the publications when they become available. Until then, I'll wait in line with Hurling for my copy. I have no doubt that it's going to be really good stuff! :D

Roger