The saxophone is one of the few instruments with that was not gradually developed over lengthy periods of time; rather, it was invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840’s and is a relatively young part of the musical family. Sax’s intention in designing the instrument was to create something with the tonal qualities of both brass and woodwind instruments. Sax completed his design in 1846, and it was immediately a big hit in orchestral groups, particularly French military ensembles. It was not long before Sax’s invention was welcomed into the music world, and it has undergone relatively little change or development since. The saxophone family is divided into four different types: Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Soprano.
