Il Saxofono

468 large format pages (cm. 21x29,7)
750 illustrations and musical examples

With a foreword by Riccardo Chailly

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The fruit of years' labour, it's the most comprehensive book about saxophone ever published and it's the fourth jewel of the "L'Espressione della Musica" series, after Guido Corti's Il corno, Fabrizio Meloni's Il clarinetto and Gabriele Cassone's La Tromba (also avalaible in English).

This book, thanks to Mario Marzi's direct writing, explains hard matters in a really understandable way for everyone. Contributes by Giuseppe Borea, Luca Bragalini, Alberto Caprotti, Luisa Giovanelli, Giuseppina Levato, Franco Pedretti, Danilo Spada, Tino Tracanna, Alessandro Zignani.

  • The book begins with Adolphe Sax's history, "the force of an inventing genius": the historical background and his patents, that revealed art through labour and success.
  • The evolution of the magical "nickel pipe" reveals presumed forerunners, inventions and modifications, experimentalisms and characteristics of the instrument.
  • With "the saxophone and its bards" you will learn the pioneers and the first soloists in America, Europe, the big classical saxophonists and the sax quartets.
  • In the chapter "the sax in Italy", you'll find the historical roots, the Italian band tradition, the institutions and the pioneers of classical sax in Italy.
  • Then, a broad list of repertoire and Italian sax composers, exploring the alliance with symphonic and operatic orchestra, its "society debut" and the history of the instrument from post-war period up to the present days.
  • "The redemption of time" is the chapter dedicated to orchestral, chamber and contemporary music: a journey into the saxophone culture that will enchant you.
  • A broad space was dedicated to didactics: sound generation, breathing, posture, voice, exercises, psychology, equipment and many other info with musical examples and explanatory pictures. They will help you to investigate thoroughly the basic subjects, in order to deal better with your artistic evolution.
  • A chapter about sax in jazz music couldn't miss: Luca Bragalini and Tino Tracanna talk about the secrets of sax and the "sacred monsters".
  • The title "looking at the saxophone's sound" is both strange and interesting: the chapter explains, in an accurate way, the acoustic principles of sax, with an analysis of the impact in recording studio.
  • "Miscellany" is the closing part, dedicated to the female soloists and groups, from the very beginning to nowadays; moreover, "Sax-Mania" is an impossible interview to Adolphe Sax, with many - and unexpected - implications.