| The instrument
at right is a tubax, made by renowned instrument maker Benedikt
Eppelsheim /Konus of Munich, Germany (who has also created the "soprillo",
a Bb saxophone pitched an octave above the Bb soprano). The Eb tubax
is made to have the same range (and fingering) as an Eb contrabass saxophone
(much like an Eb contrabass sarrusophone).
It has a much narrower bore (also like a sarrusophone), and is made to
take a bari sax mouthpiece. Paul Cohen has reviewed it in his Sept/Oct.
2000 Saxophone Journal
column (he likes it), and Kermit Welch has already
ordered one. Thomas Zoller apparently already has one, and has recorded
a CD that includes tubax parts (see the discography):
it sounds much like a contrabass sax, but subtly different - perhaps more
like a contrabass sarrusophone with a single reed mouthpiece.
There are more images (image 1, image 2) that give one an idea
of the size of the horn. The instrument is now apparently imported
by USAHorn,
who's site includes two video clips of Scott Robinson
playing one. And here is a clip (mp3) of Randy Emerick
on tubax, playing Stardust (with the Jerry Fischer Orchestra, Hollywood
FL, Mike Lewis, Arranger). Enjoy! |
Note that the keys you see above are for the right hand: situated relatively high on the instrument, the keys are in a comfortable position for playing the instrument while seated, with the tubax resting on the floor. |
| More recently, Herr Eppelsheim has produced
the tubax in CC and BBb, the latter pitched a full octave below the bass
saxophone. At right (top) is a picture apparently of a prototype BBb tubax,
while the lower picture shows one on stage with the Kölner Saxophon Mafia. (These
pictures are from Steffen Schorn's
website). Also, Jay Easton
now has a BBb tubax - check his site soon for pictures and sound clips... |
|
| Discography |
