Who said the tenor saxophone isn't a classical instrument?
There are lot's of classical pieces for solo tenor saxophone. I'm thinking of Hard and it's sequel from Lauba, Episode Quatrième of Betsy Jolas, ...
In a lot of orchestral excerpts, the tenor saxophone is used (Prokofiev,...)
I think the tenor saxophone can sound much more "classical" than the alto saxophone because in symphony orchestras the tenor tends to "merge" into the sound. If you want to reach the same effect on an alto saxophone you have to make a serious effort to succeed.
My classical setup:
Soprano:
Selmer Saxophone Series II
Meyer Mouthpiece
Vandooren Reeds 3.5
Vandooren Optimum Ligature
Alto:
Selmer Saxophone Series III
Selmer C** Mouthpiece
Selmer Solid Silver Neck
Vandooren Reeds 3.5
Vandooren Optimum Ligature
Tenor:
Selmer Saxophone Series III
Selmer D and F soloist Mouthpiece
Vandooren Reeds 2.5
BG Ligature
In a few weeks when it get's out the shop, I should be playing on a 1923 Silverplated Buescher TT alto. Hopefully if all goes well a Silver TT tenor may be added as well!
Alto:
old school YAS-62, that may actually have a soul
Selmer S-80 C mouthpiece
Vandoren 3 or 3.5 depending on the alignment of Jupiter and Mars
Vandoren Optimum lig
Tenor:
YTS-23
Selmer C* mp
Rovner dark lig
3.5 Vandoren
Bari:
YBS-52
Selmer C*
Rovner MkIII lig
Vandoren 3.5 or 4
Honestly, I really hate the mouthpieces I am using right now. They sound stuffy and don't fit with my tonal concept (think it may be the square chamber thing). I like my mouthpieces very open too. I've been on the market for new ones. I tried a Vandoren V5 on soprano and liked it, but anyone else have other suggestions(especially for bari since its my main instrument)?
Bari:
YBS-62 (FSU's bari until my brand spankin new Gold Nickel Keilwerth SX90R bari is finished at the factory, but I really like the yamaha)
Rascher Mouthpiece (self-modified but still unhappy with it)
Rovner Evo-5 ligature
Vandoren blue box 4-5
Hite Classic 138 mouthpiece (yes, that's right. I found a Hite Classic TENOR piece. It's a little brighter than my old Morgan, but it fits the SX90R perfectly. Tip opening is a .085, and the chamber is larger than the "regular" Hite pieces.)
Only bad thing is that I have to use the Hite ligature now because the piece is too small for my Consoli.
I'm currently on a
Yanagiasawa A-991
Rico Grand Concert Select 3's
Selmer S90 190
and a Vandoren Optimum
on Tenor:
Yani T-991
Selmer S80 C*
Vandoren 3's
2 screw lig, but the Tenor Mouthpiece, Lig and Reeds subject to change the more I work on tenor.
Alto- Selmer series III, Orginal copper neck
Selmer Long shank soloist C* (refaced)
Vandoren 3
Selmer two screw lig. ( after trying Tons and tons of ligatures...went back to old school)
I use the horns in my signature for the odd legit gig. I mean, VERY odd classical gig.
Last one, I used a Runyon Custom on my Zephyr. That was alot of concentration to keep a clear pure tone. Tenor and Bari? ***eddabodit. I dont have anything to use and come anywhere near a good classical tone.
I have a Vandoren S25 refaced by EZ for soprano work, and it is actually excellent for legit and jazz.
Gold Nickel, it's something that only I'm allowed to have! Lol just kidding, but really if I ever see anyone else out there with one........ well I just won't go there right now . Gold Nickel is basically a brushed nickel silver keilwerth with this dark gold lacquer put on it. I really like the response of the brushed nickel silver JKs but for some reason the sound seems a bit dead. So with the addition of the lacquer, it brings back the projection and adds a little brilliance as well.
My alto is a gold nickel JK and I just like it so much that I decided to get my bari the same! I mean that way everything matches right???
Really? I thouhgt you had a Black Nickle alto... But, that was a long time ago when we first met. I was a JK player for a long time, and really enjoyed the horns. They are made really well.
Well I used to have a silver nickel one. I still have it actually, I'm hoping to sell it off to someone heheheh. I got my current one last December. They're great horns after you make a bunch of adjustments to them lol.
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