Tubax
Encyclopedia
The tubax is a modified saxophone
developed in 1999 by the German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim
. It is available in both E contrabass and B or C subcontrabass sizes. Its name is a portmanteau of the words "tuba" and "sax".
Although the tubax has the same fingering, mouthpiece, and reed as a regular saxophone, there is some controversy over whether it is technically a true saxophone since it has a much narrower (though still conical) bore. Some suggest this narrow-bore design makes the tubax akin to the double-reed sarrusophone
; however, the tubax's bore is much larger than the corresponding size of the sarrusophone's and its sound has a richer timbre and noticeably more acoustical presence. The first size of tubax to be developed was the E contrabass. It has the same register as a regular contrabass saxophone
but is much more compact and thus more manageable due to its tubing being folded more times. It takes a baritone saxophone
mouthpiece. While the timbre of the E tubax is more focused and compact than that of the full-sized contrabass saxophone, it still blends well with other sizes of saxophones and can be played with great agility due to its air-efficient bore design.
More recently, Eppelsheim also began making a subcontrabass tubax in CCC and BBB. The B instrument is equivalent in register to the subcontrabass saxophone
proposed by Adolphe Sax
but never created. The subcontrabass tubax uses a baritone saxophone
or bass saxophone
mouthpiece. While several B subcontrabasses are already in use, only one C model has been manufactured. It was sold to Thomas Mejer of Switzerland in July 2002; he has recorded on it with Peter A. Schmid as the "Two Tubax Duo."
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
developed in 1999 by the German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim
Benedikt Eppelsheim
Benedikt Eppelsheim is a world-renowned German maker of high- and low-voiced saxophones, the soprillo and tubax , which are available exclusively from him...
. It is available in both E contrabass and B or C subcontrabass sizes. Its name is a portmanteau of the words "tuba" and "sax".
Although the tubax has the same fingering, mouthpiece, and reed as a regular saxophone, there is some controversy over whether it is technically a true saxophone since it has a much narrower (though still conical) bore. Some suggest this narrow-bore design makes the tubax akin to the double-reed sarrusophone
Sarrusophone
The sarrusophone is a family of transposing musical instruments patented and placed into production by Pierre-Louis Gautrot in 1856. It was named after the French bandmaster Pierre-Auguste Sarrus who is credited with the concept of the instrument...
; however, the tubax's bore is much larger than the corresponding size of the sarrusophone's and its sound has a richer timbre and noticeably more acoustical presence. The first size of tubax to be developed was the E contrabass. It has the same register as a regular contrabass saxophone
Contrabass saxophone
The contrabass saxophone is the lowest-pitched extant member of the saxophone family proper. It is extremely large and heavy , and is pitched in the key of E, one octave below the baritone.-History:The contrabass...
but is much more compact and thus more manageable due to its tubing being folded more times. It takes a baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
mouthpiece. While the timbre of the E tubax is more focused and compact than that of the full-sized contrabass saxophone, it still blends well with other sizes of saxophones and can be played with great agility due to its air-efficient bore design.
More recently, Eppelsheim also began making a subcontrabass tubax in CCC and BBB. The B instrument is equivalent in register to the subcontrabass saxophone
Subcontrabass saxophone
The subcontrabass saxophone is a type of saxophone that Adolphe Sax patented and planned to build but never constructed. Sax called this imagined instrument saxophone bourdon...
proposed by Adolphe Sax
Adolphe Sax
Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax was a Belgian musical instrument designer and musician who played the flute and clarinet, and is best known for having invented the saxophone.-Biography:...
but never created. The subcontrabass tubax uses a baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
or bass saxophone
Bass saxophone
The bass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family. Its design is similar to that of the baritone saxophone, with a loop of tubing near the mouthpiece. It was the first type of saxophone presented to the public, when Adolphe Sax exhibited a bass saxophone in C at an exhibition...
mouthpiece. While several B subcontrabasses are already in use, only one C model has been manufactured. It was sold to Thomas Mejer of Switzerland in July 2002; he has recorded on it with Peter A. Schmid as the "Two Tubax Duo."
Notable tubax performers
- Serge Bertocchi
- Marcus Weiss
- Petr Dvořák
- Jay C. Easton
- Randy Emerick
- Blaise GarzaBlaise GarzaBlaise Garrett Garza is an American actor and musician. He played the role of Gregory Hudson on Another World, a role he played from 1994 to 1996....
- Vinny GoliaVinny GoliaVinny Golia is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist specializing in woodwind instruments. He performs in the genres of contemporary music, jazz, free jazz, and free improvisation....
- Mats GustafssonMats GustafssonMats Olof Gustafsson is a Swedish saxophone player and a stalwart on the Scandinavian free jazz scene. He is known for his tonal belligerence and intensity when improvising....
- Masayuki Kuroda
- Jarno SarkulaJarno SarkulaJarno Sarkula is a Finnish musician and one-time TV-personality. In the music-business he is known as a member of the underground-band Alamaailman Vasarat, he also became known as a TV-persona on the free cable-channel MoonTV...
External links
- Benedikt Eppelsheim Website
- Fred Bayer's Tubax Page
- Article about CD featuring tubax
- Jay C. Easton's BBb Tubax page
- Photos showing construction of tubax