Born 1814 in Dinant (Belgium) and deceased 1894 in

Paris where he spent most of his career, Adolphe Sax is

recognized as being one of the greatest inventors of the

19^th century. He is also one of the most revolutionary

instrument makers in the history of music. He improved to the

point of perfection most instruments of his era, and invented

many others, mainly the saxtromba, saxhorn and saxophone

families. Eccentric, slightly megalomaniac, he is also the father of

numerous inventions and projects which were in no way related

to music, including a "saxo-cannon" capable of destroying

Sebastopol, and an extraordinary whistle for the steam trains.

His life reads like a novel. Starting from nothing, and flirting with

poverty, Sax rapidly attains fame and regularly associates with the

famous composers of the romantic era including Liszt. Rossini, Berlioz

and Meyerbeer extol the genius of the prophet who had been awaited

to fulfill the dream of an orchestral revolution. With the same enthusiasm

Napoléon III embraces his reform of military bands as well as his

instruments, immediately following with the fanfares and civil orchestras.

But his competitors declare war on the "Belgian", who vexes them by

sweeping the gold medals at the world exhibitions. They even go so far

as to contest his patents without hesitating to counterfeit his instruments;

they instigate a long running court case against him, from which he

will eventually emerge victorious, but which leads this tenacious fighter,

miraculously saved from cancer, twice to bankruptcy. It is not only Sax's

powerful personality he revives with passion, but the entire effervescent

Parisian musical scene.

In addition, this richly illustrated work evokes the impressive authority

of the saxophone in styles as different as classic, military

music and jazz; the latter giving it a second life as well

as bestowing upon its inventor posthumous celebrity.