On Oct 6, 2006, at 3:11 PM, Eric Dannewitz wrote:
I don't believe saxophone is included in an orchestra.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra
I don't believe that the London Symphony Orchestra has saxophones in
it.
It does when it needs to.
The Wikipedia article clearly needs tweaking (there is, for example, no
such thing as a "philharmonic orchestra"--the adjective refers to the
sponsoring body behind the orchestra, not to the orchestra itself).
The discussion under 1.2 Expanded instrumentation and personnel is
incomplete as some of the larger orchestras (the Philadelphia
Orchestra, e.g.) keep all kinds of "extra" players on the roster so as
not to have to "lower" themselves by hiring freelancers. Just this year
the musicians almost went on strike when it was proposed to eliminate
the position of second harpist. As far as the saxophone goes, it has
been practically the norm for this instrument to be doubled by the
utility clarinetist (bass clarinet and/or Eb clarinet), as is the case,
for example, in the Buffalo Philharmonic. However it may be provided,
there are just too many important scores with sax parts to say that it
is not a part of the orchestra.
Composers for the past forty years have routinely required not just one
sax, but complete sax sections, so that any orchestra wishing to play
contemporary scores (as, e.g., San Francisco) is under considerable
pressure to add such a section to its permanent roster. I do not know
whether any orchestra has actually done this or not. Whether they have
or not, it is only a matter of time--and not much time--until they do,
and in the meantime any sequencer aimed at classical composers needs A
T Bt sax sounds every bit as much as it needs the bass clarinet.
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://home.netcom.com/~kallisti/
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