The Baritone Saxophone

    The baritone is easily distinguishable by its neck, which has an additional curve unlike the tenor and the alto saxophone. The extra loop near its mouthpiece helps to maintain the instrument at a practical height (the bass saxophone which is quite rare, has a similar, but even larger loop).  The baritone saxophone is generally played in classical music especially for a saxophone quartet, though is very rarely found being used in orchestral music.  It is in the key of E-Flat, an octave lower than the alto. Due to its transposing nature, it has the capability to play musical parts written in the treble clef despite its low register and parts written for the bass clef can also be played if instruments are pitched in C as though the musical piece was written in the treble clef through changing the key signature from C to E-flat and where necessary also adjusting any accidentals.  This can be very advantageous especially when reading trombone or tuba parts in musical pieces in the absence of a written baritone saxophone part. 
    The few composers that have utilised the baritone saxophone in orchestral music include Richard Strauss’ Symphonia Domestica, composed in 1902-1903; Charles Ives’ Symphony no 4, which was composed in 1910-1916 to name but a few.  It has played an important role in military bands, concert bands, jazz bands and wind ensembles, and is generally seen in show music particularly those of a more jazz genre.