Compass
Like the saxhorn, the saxotromba was a transposing instrument. Its music was always written in the treble clef as though for an instrument pitched in 4' C, but the actual sounds produced depended on the size of instrument used. For example, if a piece of music were performed on a soprano saxotromba in 3' E♭, it would sound a minor third higher than written.
In the following table, all possible saxotrombas mentioned in the literature have been included with their probable ranges, even those whose existence is in doubt; the four in bold are probably the original models of 1845. I have followed Forsysth (1914), who restricted the compass of all the saxhorns to harmonics two through eight, and set the lower end of the compass of the half-tube saxhorns a tritone below the second harmonic. Several other sources imply that the ninth and tenth harmonics were also in regular use (on some models, at least), extending the upper range by two whole-tones. I have assumed that all of the saxotrombas - even the contrabass models, if they ever existed - were half-tube instruments. It should be remembered that the fundamentals (shown here at their sounding pitches) were not available:
| Name | Key | Fundamental | Transposition | Sounding Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sopranino | C | octave higher | ||
| Sopranino | B♭ | minor seventh higher | ||
| Soprano | E♭ | minor third higher | ||
| Alto | B♭ | major second lower | ||
| Tenor | F | perfect fifth lower | ||
| Tenor | E♭ | major sixth lower | ||
| Bass | B♭ | major ninth lower | ||
| Contrabass | E♭ | major thirteenth lower | ||
| Contrabass | B♭ | octave plus a major ninth lower |
Read more about this topic: Saxotromba
Famous quotes containing the word compass:
“To “give style” to one’s character—a rare and noble art! Those practice it who compass all that their natures present as strengths and weaknesses and then fit them into an artistic plan until every one appears as art and reason and even weakness enchants the eye.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Prithee don’t screw your wit beyond the compass of good manners.”
—Colley Cibber (1671–1757)
“It is not for man to follow the trail of truth too far, since by so doing he entirely loses the directing compass of his mind.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)