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Gilded Symphony No. 1

Our Inspiration:Tenor valve trombone
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, 1814–1894)
Brass, white metal, cork; ca. 1863
Purchase, Amati Gifts, 2014 2014.488a–d
The six-valve trombone was devised to correct the intonation problems of typical three-valve instruments, which can sound out of tune when valves are used in combination. The independent valve system showcased on this instrument, detailed in Sax’s 1859 patent, was applied mostly to saxhorns and trombones. Despite these innovations and the quality of their construction, Sax’s six-valve instruments didn’t achieve lasting popularity; players were reluctant to learn this radically different system and the instruments were much heavier to hold than conventional three-valve models.

Our Inspiration:Tenor valve trombone
Adolphe (Antoine Joseph) Sax (Belgian, 1814–1894)
Brass, white metal, cork; ca. 1863
Purchase, Amati Gifts, 2014 2014.488a–d
The six-valve trombone was devised to correct the intonation problems of typical three-valve instruments, which can sound out of tune when valves are used in combination. The independent valve system showcased on this instrument, detailed in Sax’s 1859 patent, was applied mostly to saxhorns and trombones. Despite these innovations and the quality of their construction, Sax’s six-valve instruments didn’t achieve lasting popularity; players were reluctant to learn this radically different system and the instruments were much heavier to hold than conventional three-valve models.