Adolphe Sax

Early Life and Background

Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax was born in Dinant, Belgium, on November 6, 1814, to Charles-Joseph Sax and Marie-Joseph Masson. Antoine’s father was a highly respected maker of musical instruments, giving young Adolphe early exposure to the arts and music.

Near-Fatal Childhood Accidents

When a child, Sax had several near-fatal accidents, including falling, ingesting acid, being severely burned during a gunpowder explosion, and drowning. The incidents were such that the neighbors began to refer to him as “little Sax, the ghost” as they felt that he appeared unkillable.

Musical Education and Early Talent

He learned flute and clarinet at the Brussels Royal Conservatory. He entered two flutes and a clarinet in a competition when he was 15, demonstrating his initial talent and technical skill.

Early Innovations in Instrument Design

During the 1830s, Sax started experimenting with designs for musical instruments. Specifically, he significantly refined the bass clarinet keywork and acoustic mechanism. In 1842, he transferred to Paris, where he opened a workshop and developed his innovations further, which gave birth to the saxophone.

Invention of the Saxophone

The saxophone was patented on June 28, 1846. Mixing brass and woodwind instruments’ characteristics, it produced a distinct sound that greatly changed music. Sax created an entire family of saxophones in different sizes and pitches, from soprano to bass.

Challenges and Legal Battles

In spite of his innovation success, Sax had many challenges. Competing instrument manufacturers, who felt threatened by his success, tried to steal his patents and destroy his company. Between 1846 and 1854, he defended 14 lawsuits to safeguard his inventions. He also faced major financial hardships during his career, going bankrupt three times.

Teaching and Continued Innovations

He started teaching in 1857 at the Paris Conservatory, which helped add legitimacy to the saxophone as a classical music instrument. He continued to invent other musical instruments, such as the family of brass instruments called the saxhorns.

Impact of War on His Business

His company struggled through the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, since military bands—the largest consumers of his instruments—were reorganized, resulting in decreased demand. Despite this, he continued to have an impact on music. It wasn’t until the twentieth century, when he had passed away, that the saxophone became incredibly popular in jazz.

Other Musical Contributions

Sax also greatly improved other instruments, including brass instruments such as the trombone and valved bugle. He won numerous prizes for his innovations, one of which was a first-class medal at the Paris Industrial Exhibition of 1849.

Later Years and Death

During his later years, Sax experienced financial hardship and had lip cancer but recovered miraculously. His son, Adolphe-Edouard, handled most of the business in his last years. Adolphe Sax passed away on February 7, 1894, in Paris at the age of 79, plagued by poverty.