Let me count the ways
Patty Mitchell of oboeinsight calls SLN’s attention to the following quote discussing “the saxophone’s distinct sound”:
The saxophone has an unmistakable sound, not easily confused with other instruments. What makes the sound of the saxophone so distinct? Recording the notes of various saxophones and comparing them with those of other instruments such as the oboe, Jean-Pierre Dalmont of the Universite du Maine in France will reveal the acoustical and geometrical features that endow the instrument with distinctive acoustics.
I think in this case it’s fair to assume that in choosing the terms “unmistakable” and “distinct,” the author of the quote was using them as euphemistic synonyms for “better”—especially w/r/t the oboe (ahem). The saxophone is conical. But this is only one reason it is better than other woodwind instruments. In addition, the saxophone has an articulated G# key, a mechanism coveted by clarinetists and flutists alike, as well as rollers between the low Eb and C keys. Take that!
