Alto saxophone, E-flat
Date1937 ca.
Place MadeElkhart, Indiana, United States, North America
ModelBroadus Committee Handcraft
Serial No.119795
SignedEngraved on bell at a distinct slant; surrounded by Art Deco style engraving with skyscrapers shining searchlights upward, a propeller airplane, a stylized American eagle and a five-pointed star, and a wispy cloud-like design: MARTIN / Handcraft. / ELKHART – IND. / U.S.A.MarkingsEngraved below signature: CECIL LEESON
Engraved along side of body: AMERICAN MAJOR ORCHESTRAL PREMIERE GLAZOUNOFF SAXOPHONE CONCERTO / LEESON – ITURBI ROCHESTER PHILHARMONIC JAN. 13, 1939 – PLAYED ON THIS ALTO [sic, event took place in 1938]
Stamped on back: MARTIN / 119795 / LOW PITCH
DescriptionHighly polished brass body with nickel-plated keywork. Mother-of-pearl touchpieces. Plastic rollers. Forked Eb trill key specifically altered for Cecil B. Leeson, who owned this saxophone. Customized left-hand thumbrest. Adjustable right-hand thumb rest. One octave key.
This saxophone was used in the U.S. premiere performance of Glazounoff’s Saxophone Concerto with the Rochester Philharmonic, under the direction of José Iturbi, 13 January 1938, Rochester, New York. The year engraved on the saxophone (1939) is incorrect.
DimensionsHeight from lowest point on bell to highest point on mouthpiece in straight line: 690mm
Width from fartherst point on bell to farthest point on mouthpiece in straight line: 380 mm
ProvenanceTransfer from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1994.
Published ReferencesCohen, Paul. “Vintage Saxophones Revisited.” _Saxophone Journal_ (Summer 1986): 4-6 [shows Cecil Leeson holding this saxophone].
Credit LineCecil B. Leeson Collection, 1994
Object number05744
On View
On view
