Contrabass saxophone
The contrabass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family (the largest being the triple B-flat subcontrabass tubax, although the tubax is not technically a member of the saxophone family due to its narrower bore). It is extremely large (twice the length of tubing of the baritone saxophone, with a bore twice as wide) and heavy, and is pitched in the key of double E-flat, one octave below the baritone. Although the instrument is still produced, it is quite rare (perhaps partly due to its great expense) and only a few players use it. Especially in its lowest register, the instrument produces a massive and somewhat harsh, foghorn-like tone. Because of its extremely low register (like the contrabassoon), it can be difficult for listeners to perceive individual pitches; instead of hearing a clearly defined melody, listeners may instead hear a series of "buzzy" tones with little pitch definition.
Use in classical music
There are few classical works that call specifically for the contrabass saxophone, and even fewer that feature it as a solo instrument. Its use is generally restricted to being the lowest member in large ensembles of saxophones. As an example, the eminent saxophonist Sigurd Rascher (1907-2001) played the instrument in his Rascher Saxophone Ensemble.
Performers
The contrabass saxophone has more frequently been used as a solo instrument by woodwind players in the genres of jazz and improvised music who are searching for an extreme or otherworldly tone. The difficulty of holding and controlling the instrument (let alone playing it) makes performing on the instrument a somewhat theatrical experience in and of itself.
Players who use the contrabass saxophone include Anthony Braxton, Paul Cohen, Jay C. Easton, Blaise Garza, Robert J. Verdi, Thomas K. J. Mejer, Scott Robinson, Klaas Hekman, Daniel Gordon, and Daniel Kientzy. In addition to the Rascher Saxophone Ensemble, another group that uses the instrument is the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra.
Other versions
A newer version of the instrument, called the tubax (which has the same register and fingering) was developed in 1999 by the instrument maker Benedikt Eppelsheim of Munich, Germany. The tubax's bore is narrower than that of a regular contrabass saxophone (though still conical), making for a more compact, manageable instrument with a "reedier" timbre (akin to the double-reed sarrusophone).