C-Melody Saxophone

I recently posted about Dave Pietro and his appearance in Kansas City. In that post I mis-identified the instrument Pietro was playing that night. He was not playing an alto sax. He was playing a C-Melody horn. I realized my mistake once I read the liner notes of the Pietro CD's I bought subsequent to hearing him play. I feel embarrassed by my failure to correctly recognize the instrument.




I have a C-Melody Saxophone.















To not recognize this instrument at first blush is not a surprise. It could easily be confused with both the Alto and Tenor saxophones and hasn't been made since the 1930's.

















I do not know the precise provenance of this particular instrument beyond the facts that it has been in my possession for well over 20 years and in my family since the mid-70's, perhaps longer considering my father's long-ago exploits as a dance band leader in Des Moines, Iowa.
According to the C.G. Conn company's serial numbers, this horn dates to 1921. Other then replacing a few pieces of cork and a new reed, this horn is still good to go. My neighbors may think I have adopted some geese but I'm having fun honking on this old thing.

How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? The answer used to be "Practice, practice, practice." You may still have to practice to get there but the hall does do a good bit of tourist business renting out the space for any number of student or amateur organizations. I'd rather not have had to pay for the experience this past weekend but I was happy to pay for the privilege. (I still practiced quite a bit.)

Spent my money on beer, street musicians and pedacabbies who didn't know Westside from Eastside. He did manage to cross Times Square three times on the way to our destination. I made better headway on foot.



Now, back home, time for reflection and plenty of rest. Time to start practicing for the ensemble's next performance. Come hear the group at the Village Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 27th, 7pm.