Bass sarrusophone

The bass sarrusophone is the bass member of the sarrusophone family of metal double reed conical bore wind instruments. Pitched in the key of B♭, it has a range almost identical to the bass saxophone, and can cover the bassoon range up to F₄.

Classification

• Wind
• Aerophone

Hornbostel–Sachs classification422.112
(Double reed aerophone with keys)

Inventors

• Pierre-Auguste Sarrus (concept)
• Pierre-Louis Gautrot (patent)

DevelopedMid 19th century

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Bass sarrusophone

Bass sarrusophone in B♭, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Woodwind instrument
Classification	Wind Aerophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	422.112 (Double reed aerophone with keys)
Inventors	Pierre-Auguste Sarrus (concept) Pierre-Louis Gautrot (patent)
Developed	Mid 19th century
Playing range
Bass sarrusophone in B♭ sounds two octaves and a major second lower than written.[1]
Related instruments
Bassoon Bass saxophone
Builders
Orsi (on request) Historical: Couesnon & Co. [fr] Evette & Schaeffer Gautrot Orsi
More articles or information
Sarrusophones: Soprano Alto Tenor Baritone Bass Contrabass

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Historically it was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries principally by its inventor Pierre-Louis Gautrot and his successor, Couesnon & Co. [fr], as well as Evette & Schaeffer and Orsi of Milan. It is currently only available by custom order from Orsi.^[2]

There is very little repertoire specifically for bass sarrusophone; Roupen Shakarian has written a piece for it called Sarruso Rex.^{[citation needed]}