Sax and His Saxophone

Adolphe Sax and His Saxophone

Written by Léon Kochnitzky, Adolphe Sax and His Saxophone was first published in 1949 by the Belgian Government.  For decades this booklet was one of the few resources for information about the life of the inventor of the saxophone.  This is the fourth edition, copyrighted in 1985 by NASA and appended with commentary by famed saxophonist Sigurd Rascher.

The numerous difficulties of Sax’s life, including his health problems and the many lawsuits brought against him by jealous instrument manufacturers, are presented.  Also discussed are other inventions of his abundantly creative mind, along with numerous contemporary observations by Berlioz, Kastner, and other nineteenth-century figures.

The soft cover pamphlet is 49 pages in length with 14 period photographs and illustrations.  It remains one of the basic standard references for one of the most important instrument makers in history and the origins of his most famous creation.