The Soprano and Sopranino Saxaphone

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There have been numerous erroneous posts about the instruments Ian has used onstage during A Passion Play and Warchild tours.
Many see a Soprano sax and call it out as a Clarinet…..it is not. Its also not an Alto or a Tenor Sax.
There also seems to be a bit of confusion as to the difference between a Soprano and a Sopranino sax, both of which Ian used onstage during APP.

The image below is a soprano saxophone being operated by an "unknown" assailant in 1977


This is a Sopranino Sax (being held by the same unknown assailant), it is approx. one half the size (or smaller) of the Soprano Sax. It's the smaller younger brother and plays a higher register than the soprano. It uses the same reed and is played very much the same way.


More on this subject to follow…..
Thank you for your time.

This has been an informational service message from The Jethro Tull Board

Darin E. Cody

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I can't play a sax, never tried but I know I couldn't mix it up with a clarinet?

[TM]

What's harder to play, a flute or one of those clarinets?

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[/quote]Good info from someone who knows his stuff! Now I can't recall if i've ever seen a picture where Ian used the sapranino live? I know on Passion Play he layered it with the soprano to create an octave effect, especially on side 2. I believe anyway.[/quote]

Well…..I know Jack…….and some Tull. Ive been forgetting some "stuff" lately, like where the hell my keys are…but I remember this:

APP. Ian used the Soprano over all of side one and the first instrumental on side two. He starts playing the Sopranino from "Overseer" on till the end. He might of doubled some things on the album.
When I saw them, Ian wore his coat up until the vocal line "and now you've lost a skin or two……" and sang it as he peeled off his coat and threw it to the stage. It may have been different elsewhere, but chances are when you see a picture of him with the Sopranino he's in his shirtsleeves.
Video reference #1

from 3:47 on he's using the Sopranino till the end of APP. Note: at the very end he drops his vocal mike down so he can play thru it and get an echo on the sax.

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Jan 14, 2014 9:33:55 GMT -5 @tulltapes said:

Ahh.. OF COURSE! I never saw the show live but I knew he played it through the end of side 2 and I have obviously seen him playing it live a hundred times (on little bits of video and pictures) but never paid attention enough or noticed 2 sax's on stage. Now that it's been pointed out to me it's glaringly obvious! Thanks!

Darin do you have video of Ian with the clarinet?

Well no but you have a picture of it right there! the Clarinetino! (Need the dancing weenies here)
(Thats a really great pic btw. where'd you get it?)
Daroon

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Jan 14, 2014 12:53:35 GMT -5 @darincody said:

Well no but you have a picture of it right there! the Clarinetino! (Need the dancing weenies here)
(Thats a really great pic btw. where'd you get it?)
Daroon

You sure that's not a claghorninet?

[Preston Platform]

Thanks for clarifying things in this thread ..enjoyed reading it

[TM]

Jan 16, 2014 15:14:21 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Thanks for clarifying things in this thread ..enjoyed reading it

Yes. I knew about the soprano sax as my dad still plays the (alto) sax and he still has his soprano from his high school days, but I didn't know what about the sopranino. Nice to see it in the pictures, and of course I will continue to call them all clarinets.