Yanagisawa Wind Instruments Co., Ltd. is a Japanese

woodwind instrument Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and Reed ...

manufacturing company Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer to a range ...

known for its range of professional grade

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

s. Along with

Yamaha Yamaha may refer to: * Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below). ** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...

, they are one of the leading manufacturers of saxophones in their country of origin. The company currently manufactures sopranino,

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: ''altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by ...

tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...

, and

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

saxophones. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, Yanagisawa products are commercialized and distributed by

Conn-Selmer Conn-Selmer, Inc. is an American manufacturer of musical instruments for concert bands, marching bands and orchestras. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments and was formed in 2003 by combining the Steinway properties, T ...

, a subsidiary of

Steinway Musical Instruments Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. is a worldwide musical instrument manufacturing and marketing conglomerate (company), conglomerate, based in Astoria, New York, the United States. It was formed in a 1995 merger between the Conn-Selmer#The H&A Se ...

History

The history of woodwind manufacturing in Japan had its origins in 1894 when Tokutaro Yanagisawa began repairing imported woodwinds for military band members. Within that wartime setting, Tokutaro's repair shop soon evolved into an instrument factory—the first to build woodwind instruments on Japanese soil. Tokutaro's son Takanobu followed in his father's footsteps, choosing to pursue a career in the craft of instrument-making, and built his first prototype saxophone in 1951. Starting in the late 1960s, Yanagisawa exported saxophones sold under various distributor's names, providing a large portion of the instruments sold under the

Vito Vito is an Italian name that is derived from the Latin word "''vita''", meaning "life". It is a modern form of the Latin name Vitus, meaning "life-giver," as in San Vito or Saint Vitus, the patron saint of dogs and a heroic figure in southern ...

(Japan) brand and representing Leblanc's Martin brand for saxophones starting in 1971. In 1978, the 800 series models were introduced, which became the first Yanagisawa saxophones exported under Yanagisawa's own name. In 1980, the 500 series was introduced for sale under other brands in the student/intermediate market. The Yanagisawa name soon became known for the impeccable workmanship, accurate intonation, and playability of its products. With the growth of Yanagisawa's reputation, interest in finding Yanagisawa instruments sold under other brands has become heightened in the used instrument market. The Yanagisawa soprano saxophone designs became influential throughout rest of the industry, comparable to the influence of Selmer (Paris) and

saxophones in other ranges. Yanagisawa introduced innovations including detachable straight and curved necks and a high G key for its 990 series soprano saxophones. Product development timeline: 1954 First tenor saxophone (the T-3 model) enters production 1956–1966 First alto saxophone (A-3) is unveiled, and A-5 alto and T-5 tenor models are introduced. Development work is completed on a low-A baritone model (B-6). 1968 Japan's first soprano saxophone (S-6) is placed on the market. The SN-600 sopranino model with high-E key is finished and released. 1978–1985 The Elimona (Elite Monarch) series (800 series) is launched. Japan's first curved soprano model is unveiled. The world's first straight soprano model with detachable neck (S-880) is announced. 1990–1996 Yanagisawa's 900- and 990-series soprano and baritone models are introduced. The first Silver Sonic model (9930 series) is unveiled in soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone ranges, in Japan. Alto and tenor models are added to the 900 and 990 series, which later evolve into the 900μ and 990μ series. 1999 The A-9937 alto model with sterling silver neck, body, bow, and bell is announced. 2000 The sterling T-9937 tenor model hits the market and Yanagisawa introduces its top baritone model, the B-9930BSB. Yanagisawa launches the bronze-bodied 992GP series with gold-plated finish. 2001 The bronze 992PGP series debuts with new pink-gold plated models. 2002 The 9937PGP series is born, rounding out the all-sterling lineup with pink-gold plated models. Yanagisawa unveils its bronze A-902 alto. 2003 Yanagisawa unveils the T-902, the tenor version of its bronze alto model. 2004 The SC-991 and SC-992 curved soprano models are announced. 2006 Yanagisawa builds the A-9914, the world's first alto saxophone with neck, body, bow, and bell crafted entirely in 14K gold. Reference prototypes are exhibited at the Frankfurt Musikmesse trade show. 2008 The SC-9937 curved soprano sax with all-sterling neck, body, bow, and bell is introduced 2012 The WO series Alto is launched. 2014 The WO series Tenor is launched.

Production

The company is notable for making saxophones from materials other than the standard

brass Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...

(i.e.,

phosphor bronze Phosphor bronze is a member of the family of copper alloys. It is composed of copper that is alloyed with 0.5–11% of tin and 0.01–0.35% phosphorus, and may contain other elements to confer specific properties (e.g. lead at 0.5–3.0% to form ...

and solid

silver Silver is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₂erǵ-, ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, whi ...

, and combinations thereof). Their first solid silver saxophone was produced in 1972 and instruments made from

began to be produced in 1992. The 8830 model alto and tenor saxophones, introduced in 1988, combined silver necks and bells with a brass body tube, reminiscent of the

King King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

"Silversonic" instruments. Similar combinations are offered in current production, as illustrated by Yanagisawa's 2015 range of alto saxophone offerings: * AWO1 - made entirely from solid

. The entry level professional saxophone from Yanagisawa. * AWO1U - same as AWO1, but unlacquered * AWO1B - same as AWO1, but black lacquered * AWO1S - same as AWO1, but silver-plated * AWO2 - made entirely from solid

(except keywork, which is brass) * AWO2S - same as AWO2, but silver-plated * AWO10 - made entirely from solid

(underslung neck) * AWO10U - made entirely from solid

(underslung neck - unlacquered) * AWO10S - same as AWO10, but plated with

* AWO10GP - same as AWO10, but gold-plated * AWO10B - same as AWO10, but coated with black lacquer * AWO20 - made entirely from solid

(except keywork, which is brass) * AWO20U - same as AWO20, but unlacquered * AWO20S - same as AWO20, but silver-plated * AWO20PG - same as AWO20, but plated with "pink gold" (80%

gold Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...

and 20% silver) * AWO20GP - same as AWO20, but gold-plated * AWO30 - solid silver crook and body with solid brass bell and bow * AWO32J - solid silver crook and bell, solid phosphor bronze body and bow (designed exclusively for

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

, so no 'lyre' socket) * AWO33 - solid silver neck and bell; solid brass body, bow, and crook * AWO35 - solid silver neck, body, and bell; solid brass bow * AWO37 - solid silver crook, body, bow, and bell * AWO37PG - same as AWO37, but pink gold-plated * AWO37GP - same as AWO37, but gold-plated The

permutations In mathematics, a permutation of a set is, loosely speaking, an arrangement of its members into a sequence or linear order, or if the set is already ordered, a rearrangement of its elements. The word "permutation" also refers to the act or proc ...

are increased by the fact that it is possible to buy a solid brass, silver, or bronze neck from Yanagisawa and fit it to any of the nine instruments listed above (e.g., adding a solid silver neck to the AWO10 or AWO20 or a phosphor bronze neck to the AWO10, AWO32J, or AWO37).

Musicians

Professional saxophonists performing on Yanagisawa instruments include

Gary Bartz Gary Bartz (born September 26, 1940) is an American jazz saxophonist. He has won two Grammy Awards. Biography Bartz studied at the Juilliard School. In the early 1960s, he performed with Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner in Charles Mingus' Jazz Works ...

Jay Beckenstein Jay Barnet Beckenstein (born May 14, 1951) is an American saxophonist, composer, producer, and the co-founder of the band Spyro Gyra. He owned BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York. Music career Beckenstein was born in Long Island, New York, ...

Plas Johnson Plas John Johnson Jr. (born July 21, 1931) is an American soul-jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist, probably most widely known as the tenor saxophone soloist on Henry Mancini’s "The Pink Panther Theme". He also performs on alto and baritone sax ...

Ed Wynne Edward Wynne (born 3 June 1961) is an English guitarist and keyboardist best known as a founding member, principal composer and the only constant member of psychedelic rock band Ozric Tentacles. Biography Ed Wynne was born in Wandsworth, Lond ...

Steve Slagle Steve Slagle (born September 18, 1951) is an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Slagle was born in Los Angeles and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. He received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music and received a master's degree in M ...

, Peter King,

Vincent Herring Vincent Dwayne Herring (born November 19, 1964) is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator. Known for his fiery and soulful playing in the bands of Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, and Nat Adderley in the earlier stages of h ...

, Snake Davis,

Greg Osby Greg Osby (born August 3, 1960) is an American saxophonist and composer. Biography Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Osby studied at Howard University, then at the Berklee College of Music. He moved to New York City in 1982, where he played with Jaki ...

Antonio Hart Antonio Hart (born September 30, 1968) is a jazz alto saxophonist. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, studied with Andy McGhee at Berklee College of Music, and has a master's degree from Queens College, City University of New York. H ...

, Jean Denis Michat, Paul Corn (Composer of the Paul Corn Jazz Collective), Pascal Bonnet, Jess Gillam, David Pons, Jeroen Vanbever and another classical and jazz players. Arno Bornkamp has performed occasionally with Yanagisawa Soprano. Raaf Hekkema use a Elimona Soprano as Standard instrument.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Musical instrument manufacturing companies of Japan