Adolphe Sax and his hometown

• Adolphe Sax and his hometown of

In this post, we'll discuss the Adolphe Sax - inventor of the saxophone. When we see some kind of musical instrument to the head rarely it comes to the question of where it came from. Somehow unconsciously, we believe that it originated long ago and "by itself," as the fruit of a collective effort of different people. For example, no one can say exactly when and where there are flutes, drums, stringed instruments, and even the body. Meanwhile, many modern musical instruments have a very specific inventors. A saxophone - an instrument young, so everything about it is precisely known.

In 1814, in the small Belgian town of Dinant Adolphe Sax was born (at birth he was named Antoine-Joseph, Adolf came later). Dinan and in those days was a deep province, so that in 1835 the family moved to Brussels. Adolf studied at the Brussels Conservatory in flute, clarinet, singing and harmony (apparently, composition), and then continued the work of his father, who was a master for the production of musical instruments. The desire to experiment and invent new tools Adolf also inherited from his father - he has spent on these experiments all their money, not having achieved visible success.

Adolf decided not to be penny wise and in 1842 went directly to Paris - the then European Capital of Culture. There he hoped to present his invention - a completely new musical instrument called the saxophone. And indeed, his saxophone aroused great interest in the musical circles of Paris. He was particularly impressed by Hector Berlioz - known composer - who became the patron Sachs and helped him find sponsors. In the photo - the first original saxophone in the museum Sachs in Dinan.

Flushed with success, Sachs built a new model saxophones. In Paris, he brought the soprano saxophone, and later became eight models (sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, double bass and subkontrabas). In addition, he created a number of new wind instruments, based on the same principle saxophone - Today their names are familiar only to specialists: sakstromba, saxhorn, sakstuba and others. In 1846, he finally received a patent for his invention, t. E. On the saxophone and all the other tools of the same kind, and opened his own studio with more than a hundred employees, in which of all time was created about 20,000 instruments.

Sachs and his invention quickly gain wide popularity, but actually triumphant path of the saxophone is just beginning. During his lifetime, Sachs was not yet any specific style of music for saxophone, he was just another instrument in the orchestra. By the way, especially popular Sachs tools were in the military music - a brave marches for parades. Jazz, in which the saxophone has become a central tool, and thanks to which it now knows every child, appeared after Sachs.

And Adolphe Sax died in poverty. Having received recognition in the music world, he at the same time gained a lot of envy and competition, which began en masse to submit it to the court, challenging its patent and the originality of his inventions. All things, in the end, decided in favor of Sachs, but lawyers and other legal costs left a huge amount - too many have been lawsuits. And, apparently, the workshop did not bring enough profit to cover these costs. Even I had several times to declare themselves bankrupt. Adolphe Sax died in 1894 in Paris. In the hometown of Saxe Dinan his persona is venerated especially. Practically, Sachs and saxophone became his trademark, the main attraction, and the main motive of souvenirs. Saxophones Dean streets can be seen everywhere.

On lampposts.

In the form of a sculpture on the square.

In the form of chocolates.

Prior to the mayor's office.

This is the main bridge on which the saxophone from each country. Everyone has their own original design.

Of course, in Dinant Adolphe Sax has a museum where you can see all sorts of interesting things, including some of his inventions - the mysterious winding pieces.

By the way, and he Dinan is quite nice and beautiful, even in the rain (in the beginning we were not very lucky with the weather), and only under clear sun even more.

In addition to many old buildings have the cathedral.

There is still a stronghold on the mountain and can be reached by cable car. From there, overlooking the city.

As elsewhere in Belgium, there are chocolate shops, and different varieties of wonderful Belgian beer can be tasted in restaurants and cafes. Dinan small city one day to visit for an eye is enough, even if you do not hurry. When traveling by car, you can drive around the same time other towns of Wallonia, which are also worth to admire them.