On this day, Adolphe Sax (born Antoine-Joseph Sax), a Belgian musical instrument designer, patented his visionary creation – the saxophone. Adolphe’s parents were musical instrument designers themselves, and at the early age of 15 Adolphe entered two of his own flutes and a clarinet into a competition. After completing his studies in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Adolphe started to work on a number of instruments, firstly the saxhorn family and subsequently the saxophone family. Although supported by the composer Hector Berlioz, saxophones did not become a standard part of the orchestra. However, their ability to play technical passages easily like woodwinds yet project loudly like brass instruments led to their inclusion in military bands in France and elsewhere. But it was later, in the world of jazz and modern pop-rock, that the sax finally found its fortune as a solo instrument.
