Alto Flute
Alto Flute
![]() |
The saxophone section in a big band consists of 5 players - two altos, two tenors and one baritone sax. In a traditional big band setup, the saxes are located in the first (front) row of three rows of horn players. The trombones and trumpets are found in the rows directly behind the saxes.
Saxophones are considered agile instruments, much like the clarinet and flute. They are able to play fast lines or perform effects that cannot be achieved so easily on a brass instrument. This characteristic gives them the ability to cover very fast passages within the ensemble - passages that would be too difficult for the brass section to pull off.
Melodic Roles
Saxophones are often called on to state the melody of a big band composition or arrangement. Playing in unison gives them the power to cut through punches and harmony played by the brass section. When stating the melody as a section (i.e. 4-5 part voicings) the lead alto player must project the lead line so it can be heard above other instrumental activity going on within the arrangement at any given time.
Saxes can also be coupled with other instruments to create a homogeneous sound. Altos are often combined with trumpet, while tenor saxes are most often found sharing a melody with one or more trombones. These melodic couplings work well because the timbre of trumpet and trombone are similar to the alto and tenor respectively. Baritone sax at times plays melody alone, or coupled with bass trombone.
Harmonic Roles
Because the sax section covers a wide range, it lends itself well to supplying harmony and harmonic "pads" to a big band arrangement or composition. In ballads, for example, the saxes are often written as lush voicings that provide all the necessary notes of a chord. They are used in this manner within an arrangement as background to a soloist, or as counter melody to another instrument.
Solos and Solis
The tenor saxophone is one of the more popular solo instruments in jazz, so it only makes sense that tenor solos are written quite regularly throughout the big band music repertoire. Although any of the saxes are called upon at one time or another for solos, the tenor seems to get more improvised solos than the others. Baritone sax solos are written sparingly throughout big band literature. Depending on the level of skill of the players, solo sections can be passed around so that good soloists - even bari sax players - have a chance to shine.
Sax solis occur when the saxophone section is featured by itself by playing a composed jazz "solo". A soli is most often composed in four or five part harmony that is voiced for the entire section. The lead line is played by Alto 1, while the rest of the section is voiced below the lead line and follows in rhythmic unison. In a four part setting, the bari sax player will often double the alto melody at the octave.
The saxophone section is an integral part of any big band in a variety of ways. Brass players may complain that the saxophones are written too many solos, but it is hard to beat a terrific saxophone section ripping through a difficult Thad Jones or Don Menza soli. As they say, if you can't beat them, join them!
To listen and view scores for a variety of big band charts that feature saxophone, visit http://www.pdfjazzmusic.com
|
|
Jupiter 519S Alto Flute $1679 Jupiter 519S Alto Flute |
|
|
Jupiter DiMedici Alto Flute $3260 Jupiter DiMedici Alto Flute |
|
|
Jupiter Dimedici Alto Flute $3260 Jupiter DiMedici Alto Flute |
|
|
Blayman Flute / Piccolo Pegs Alto Flute Peg $49.99 Blayman Flute / Piccolo Pegs Alto Flute Peg |
|
|
Sonare Model 70 Alto Flute $2449 Sonare Model 70 Alto Flute |
|
|
Elegy for Alto Flute $2.8 By Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006). For Alto Flute Solo. Flute. 4 pages. Published by E.C. Schirmer Publishing |
|
|
The Alto Flute Practice Book $25.95 For Alto Flute. Music Sales America. 64 pages. Novello & Co Ltd. #NOV120781. Published by Novello & Co Ltd. |
|
|
Cavallaro Flute Case Covers Alto Flute (Single Headjoint Only) $59.99 Cavallaro Flute Case Covers Alto Flute (Single Headjoint Only) |
|
|
Altieri Flute Gig Bags Alto/Flute And Piccolo Combo $109.95 Altieri Flute Gig Bags Alto/Flute And Piccolo Combo |
|
|
Altieri Flute Gig Bags Backpack Style Alto/Flute/Piccolo Combo $109.95 Altieri Flute Gig Bags Backpack Style Alto/Flute/Piccolo Combo |
|
|
Concerto for Four Flutes (optional piccolo, alto flute, and bass flute) $23 "By Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767). Arranged by David H. Bailey. For Flute / Piccolo, Flute, Flute / Alto Flute, Flute / Bass Flute. Standard notation. Published by Falls House Press" |
|
|
Bella's Lullaby (from Twilight) - Flute/Alto Flute $6.99 By Carter Burwell. Arranged by Paul Lavender. Orchestra. For Flute/Alto Flute. Film/TV. Individual instrument part. 1 pages. Duration 2:40. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music |
|
|
Atlantis for Alto Flute and Piano $10.95 By Gary Schocker. For Flute and Piano. Standard notation. Published by Falls House Press |
|
|
Pearl Flutes PHA-2S Alto Flute Headjoint $200 Pearl Flutes PHA-2 ALto Flute Headjoint is a straight sterling silver embouchure lip and riser headjoint. |
|
|
Pearl Flutes Pha-2S Alto Flute Headjoint $200 Pearl Flutes PHA-2 ALto Flute Headjoint is a straight sterling silver embouchure lip and riser headjoint. |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Curved Headjoint $1450 Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Curved Headjoint |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Straight Headjoint 886830089251 $1305 Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Straight Headjoint 886830089251 |
|
|
Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver, Straight Head 886830058660 $2294.1 Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver, Straight Head 886830058660 |
|
|
Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver, Curved Head 886830088759 $2429.1 Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver, Curved Head 886830088759 |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 206 Series Alto Flute 206U - Curved Headjoint 889406684591 $1551.15 Pearl Flutes 206 Series Alto Flute 206U - Curved Headjoint 889406684591 |
|
|
Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver Straight Head $2549 Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver Straight Head |
|
|
Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver Curved & Straight Head $2999 Brio BAF-2 Series Alto Flute Silver Curved & Straight Head |
|
|
Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 517S - Straight Headjoint 889406684003 $1238.49 Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 517S - Straight Headjoint 889406684003 |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 206 Series Alto Flute 206U - Curved Headjoint $2090 Pearl Flutes 206 Series Alto Flute 206U - Curved Headjoint |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Straight Headjoint $1450 Pearl Flutes 210 Series Alto Flute Straight Headjoint |
|
|
On-Stage Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg $17.99 On-Stage Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg |
|
|
Jupiter diMedici 1321ES Alto Flute Straight and Curved Headjoint $3339 Jupiter diMedici 1321ES Alto Flute Straight and Curved Headjoint |
|
|
Performance Gear Woodwind Modular Instrument Stand Alto Flute Peg $16.95 Performance Gear Woodwind Modular Instrument Stand Alto Flute Peg |
|
|
Hercules Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg $39.95 Hercules Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg |
|
|
Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 521S - Straight and Curved Headjoints $1946 Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 521S - Straight and Curved Headjoints |
|
|
Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 517S - Straight Headjoint $1529 Jupiter 500 Series Alto Flute 517S - Straight Headjoint |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 207 Series Alto Flute With Straight Headjoint $2865 Pearl Flutes 207 Series Alto Flute With Straight Headjoint |
|
|
Pearl Flutes 207 Series Alto Flute With Curved Headjoint $3100 Pearl Flutes 207 Series Alto Flute With Curved Headjoint |
|
|
Hercules Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand With Flute/Clarinet Peg $39.95 Hercules Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg |
|
|
On-Stage Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand With Flute/Clarinet Peg $17.99 On-Stage Stands Alto/Tenor Saxophone Stand with Flute/Clarinet Peg |


US $21.88










































































![MORGAN HONEGGER RAMAN DUO CONCERTOS FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE FLUTE ORCHES CD NEW]](http://www.sophieheng.com/images/e/140726914998_0.jpg)










