Sopranissimo saxophone
The sopranissimo saxophone (also known as the piccolo or soprillo saxophone) is the smallest member of the saxophone family. It is pitched in B♭, one octave above the soprano saxophone. Because of the difficulties in building such a small instrument—the soprillo is 30 cm (12 in) long, 33 cm (13 in) with the mouthpiece—it is only since the mid-2010s that a true sopranissimo saxophone has been able to be produced. The keywork only extends to a written E♭6 (sounding D♭7), rather than F, F♯, or sometimes G, like most saxophones, and the upper octave key has to be placed on the mouthpiece.[1]
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| Woodwind instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Single-reed |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 422.212-71 (Single-reed aerophone with keys) |
| Inventor(s) | Benedikt Eppelsheim |
| Developed | Late 1990s |
| Playing range | |
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| Related instruments | |
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Sizes:
Orchestral saxophones: Specialty saxophones: | |
| Musicians | |
| See list of saxophonists | |
The extremely small mouthpiece requires a small and focused embouchure, making the soprillo difficult to play, particularly in its upper register. There is very little market demand for soprillos, reducing the economy of scale and making the soprillo more expensive than more common saxophones like the alto or tenor.
As of 2015, soprillos were being manufactured by the German instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim, and the retail price is approximately US$3,400.
See also
References
- Wood, Nigel. "The Soprillo". Nigel Wood Music. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
External links
- Nigel Wood Music – information about the soprillo and the National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain
- Benedikt Eppelsheim's Soprillo page
- Strange saxes page at the web site of Jay C. Easton; includes pictures and sound clips of his soprillo.