PRESTO-TIMES
April 7, 1928
ANNOUNCING THE NEW
CONN MEZZO-SOPRANO
SAXOPHONE IN F
C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., Progressive Band and Orchestra Instrument Manufacturers offer the Music Trade and
Profession something novel and exclusive which unquestionably will develop big demand among Dealers and Band and
Orchestra Organizations all over the country.
REVOLUTION IN MUSIC
New Model is ideal lead instrument of the Saxophone family, in designing and building which, the Conn Factory Experts
succe< ;eded in producing wonderful brilliancy of tone and other merits that appeal to Professional and Amateur Saxophonists.
The Mezzo-Soprano in F is the new addition to the
saxophone group of C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.,
and the new model is at once a revelation to musi-
cians, a revolution in band and orchestra musical in-
struments, and another triumph in music goods man-
ufacturing for the progressive company. Because of
its peculiar advantages mezzo-soprano in F prom-
ises to be one of the most popular of all the saxo-
phones.
Ten instruments now compose the saxophone fam-
ily within which the E flat alto is king, with the
B flat soprano, straight model, sharing second hon-
ors. Both are lead instruments. While one or the
other of these two instruments is chosen for the lead,
neither of them is entirely satisfactory.
Ideal Lead Instrument.
The Mezzo-soprano in F is the ideal lead instrli-
ment of the saxophone family. It is built in F, or\e:
whole tone higher than the E flat also, and has the
brightest, sweetest voice of all saxophones. This
brightness is due, not only to the fact that it is pitched
higher than the alto but is also due to a completely
new bore and taper in this saxophone which is not
possessed by any other.
In building the mezzo-soprano saxophone in F, the
Conn saxophone experts strove to produce a bril-
liancy of tone and preserve, at the same time, the
voice-like quality which is characteristic of the saxo-
phone. To do this they were compelled to work
out an entirely new bore and taper. Not only is the
bore smaller, but the graduation of the taper is differ-
ent from all other saxophones. This completely new
design lies at the basis of the peculiar excellence of
this new saxophone.
Has Most Perfect Scale.
Besides producing a unique brilliancy in tone color-
ing, this new design has produced the most perfect
scale of any saxophone yet built. Several of the coun-
try's greatest saxophone artists have tested this in-
strument, and all of them remark about that uni-
formity of the extremely low and extremely high
notes with the rest of the scale. The low B and low
B flat and the notes from D to F in the top of the
scale are produced with the same ease as the notes
of the middle register.
To be able to play from the bottom of the scale to
the extreme top without changing the pressure of
blowing will give any saxophone player a thrill of
satisfaction.
Especially noteworthy is the excellent tone quality
of these extreme notes. There is not a trace of
"warble" at the low notes, both the B and B flat
being solid and rich. The E natural and F in the top
of the scale are big, round and sweet. Nothing like
this quality is found on any other saxophone.
The C sharp on all saxophones has been a difficult
note to bring out with clear resonance. But the C
sharp in both octaves on the mezzo-soprano in F is
uniformly clear and sweet with the rest of the scale.
No other saxophone has such an easy flowing scale
and one whose notes are so evenly spaced throughout,
both as to intonation and pressure of glowing.
Quickness of Response.
>jSf
Another remarkable quality of this instrument is
the quickness of its response. Artists who have
played this instrument say they have never experi-
enced anything like it. Even with the most rapid
Aside from the unusually fine musical qualities of
this instrument, the fact that it is built in the key of
F has certain important advantages. An F instrument
adds only one sharp to the signature of a composition,
and takes one flat away; for this reason the saxo-
phone parts can be easily added to the great classics
by adding one sharp or taking away one flat. This
fact takes on peculiar significance when it is recalled
that a great share of the classics for orchestras are
written in sharp keys. When parts have to be writ-
ten for instruments that add two or three sharps to
the signature of the composition, it becomes necessary
for the composer or arranger to re-write the whole
composition in some flat key in order to avoid em-
barrassing the players of these instruments with six
or seven sharps.
It is believed the F saxophone will open up a wealth
of classical music to the saxophone, which has hith-
erto been out of reach.
CONN MKZZO-SOPRANO SAXOPHONE IN F.
triple tongueing, every note sounds instantly and
precisely. The tone, while voice-like in quality, at the
same time has a peculiar brilliancy, penetrating power
and snap which is unique in the saxophone family.
Being built in a key one whole step higher than
that of the E flat alto, this instrument, of course, is
shorter in length and lighter in weight. This fact
makes the mezzo-soprano in F peculiarly suitable for
children. The E flat alto is just a little large, while
the C melody is still larger. The B flat straight so-
prano requires a reach of the arm which makes play-
ing uncomfortable for smaller children. While the
B flat soprano, curved model, is all right for size, it
is rather hard to blow and is not as fine an instrument
musically as some of the other saxophones. The F
soprano is ideal in all respects for children, and is
destined to become very popular for this use.
Fingering Is Standard.
The fingering of the instrument has not been
changed from the standard fingering on other mem-
bers of the saxophone family, with the exception of
the new B flat trill key of metal which has been sub-
stituted for the usual pearl tip. Although the B flat
hole has been moved from the right side of the bell
to the left side, the fingering remains the same. This
change simplifies the key mechanism considerably,
and makes it more positive.
Bring Back Bright Keys.
The F instrument will also allow present day com-
posers to write their compositions in the bright, sharp
keys. Here is a beautiful lead instrument which is
not afraid of composition signatures in sharps. In
the absence of the F saxophone as a lead instrument,
composers have steered clear of compositions in the
sharp keys. In fact, they have al.nost universally
gone to the flat key. It is claimed by some, that such
a course has tended to make modern music dull and
heavy.
Once the advantages of this remarkable instrument
are known to composers, a flood of music will be
published for it. This has been the history of all in-
struments. Composers have always been limited by
the instruments which were available to play their
compositions.
Composers and arrangers will be quick to furnish
all kinds of music for this instrument once they have
become acquainted with its possibilities. Publishers
are already starting in this direction, as rumor of the
Conn F saxophone has spread.
Heard in Concert..
1 he new mezzo-soprano saxophone in F, was given
an interesting demonstration last Sunday afternoon.
April 1, over radio station KYW, on the occasion of
the Sunday afternoon C. G. Conn, Ltd., Artists' Con-
certs, conducted by the Chicago Evening American.
Solos and duets were played and the instrument was
heard also in ensemble numbers and as a solo with
obligato.
J. F. Boyer, secretary of the C. G. Conn., Ltd.,
was the master of ceremonies, lecturer and piano ac-
companist on the occasion. This was the first pub-
lic performance and the first radio exposition of the
new instrument, and that it met with a hearty wel-
come goes without saying. One of the so'oists of
the afternoon performed a new composition of his
own, entitled "Nimble Fingers," which was also the
first playing of the piece. It was written especially
for the new saxophone and is a composition well
adapted to test the technical capabilities of the instru-
ment as well as its wide range and solo effects, in
which respects it is certainly an instrument of sur-
passing possibilities and one to be classed among the
really essential musical instrument productions of the
dav.
C. G. CONN, Ltd., ELKHART, INDIANA, U. S. A.
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