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40-592: The Congregation was a British pop ensemble , formed by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway in England. In the United States it was credited as The English Congregation . The band's biggest hit was a cover version of " Softly Whispering I Love You " (originally recorded by Cook and Greenaway's previous group, David and Jonathan ), which peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in 1971, No. 29 on

80-437: A flute , an oboe , a clarinet , and a bassoon . A brass quartet features two trumpets , a trombone , and a tuba (or French horn (more commonly known as "horn") ). A saxophone quartet consists of a soprano saxophone , an alto saxophone , a tenor saxophone , and a baritone saxophone . The string quintet is a common type of group. It is similar to the string quartet, but with an additional viola, cello, or more rarely,

120-462: A chamber orchestra). Larger orchestras are called symphony orchestras (see below) or philharmonic orchestras. A pops orchestra is an orchestra that mainly performs light classical music (often in abbreviated, simplified arrangements) and orchestral arrangements and medleys of popular jazz, music theater, or pop music songs. A string orchestra has only string instruments, i.e., violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. A symphony orchestra

160-537: A form of male rebellion vis-à-vis female bedroom culture." In popular music, there has been a gendered "distinction between public (male) and private (female) participation" in music. "[S]everal scholars have argued that men exclude women from bands or the bands' rehearsals, recordings, performances, and other social activities." "Women are mainly regarded as passive and private consumers of allegedly slick, prefabricated – hence, inferior – pop music..., excluding them from participating as high-status rock musicians." One of

200-421: A high prominence in many popular music styles as singers. However, professional women instrumentalists are uncommon in popular music, especially in rock genres such as heavy metal . "[P]laying in a band is largely a male homosocial activity, that is, learning to play in a band is largely a peer-based... experience, shaped by existing sex-segregated friendship networks." As well, rock music "...is often defined as

240-490: A rock concert that includes a string section , a horn section , and a choir that accompanies a rock band's performance). In Western classical music, smaller ensembles are called chamber music ensembles. The terms duo , trio , quartet , quintet , sextet , septet , octet , nonet , and decet describe groups of two up to ten musicians, respectively. A group of eleven musicians, such as found in The Carnival of

280-443: A singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader." According to Auslander, she was "kicking down the male door in rock and roll and proving that a female musician  ... and this is a point I am extremely concerned about ... could play as well if not better than the boys". Soprano saxophone The soprano saxophone is a small, high-pitched member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented in

320-407: A small alto saxophone with a straighter neck/crook, as well as 'tipped-bell' sopranos which are straight but have the bell angled upward somewhat and are typically used with a curved neck (these are often called 'saxellos' for their resemblance to the somewhat rare Saxello model produced by King in the 1920s, though an actual Saxello's bell is angled more and its bore is different ). All variants have

360-415: Is also less forgiving of poor maintenance than lower saxophones. This has led to the common belief that soprano is either inherently out of tune, or far more difficult to play than lower saxophones, but many experienced players and teachers disagree with these sentiments. Soprano saxophone mouthpieces are available in various designs, allowing players to tailor their tone as desired. The soprano saxophone

400-663: Is an ensemble usually comprising at least thirty musicians; the number of players is typically between fifty and ninety-five and may exceed one hundred. A symphony orchestra is divided into families of instruments. In the string family, there are sections of violins (I and II), violas, cellos (often eight), and basses (often from six to eight). The standard woodwind section consists of flutes (one doubling piccolo), oboes (one doubling English horn), soprano clarinets (one doubling bass clarinet), and bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon). The standard brass section consists of horns, trumpets, trombones, and tuba. The percussion section includes

440-415: Is commonly played as much as a fifth higher (though the soprano saxophone can also be played this high with altissimo , it is uncommon for a player to do so). The saxophone is made of brass and is either lacquered or plated with silver, gold, or occasionally black nickel, while the clarinet is either black or distinctly wood-grained, with silver or gold keys. In 2001, François Louis created the aulochrome ,

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480-731: Is mainly used as a solo and chamber instrument in classical music , though it is occasionally used in a concert band or orchestra . It is included in the saxophone quartet and plays a lead role. Many solo pieces have been written for it by composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos , Alan Hovhaness , Jennifer Higdon , Takashi Yoshimatsu , Charles Koechlin , John Mackey , Miklos Maros, Marc Mellits, Belinda Reynolds, John Corigliano , Rolf Martinsson , Sven-David Sandström , Kalevi Aho , Anders Hillborg , Britta Byström , Victoria Borisova-Ollas , Andrea Tarrodi  [ sv ] , Paula af Malmborg Ward and Ann-Sofi Söderqvist As an orchestral instrument, it has been used in several compositions. It

520-413: Is rare, except for the nonet (nine musicians). In most cases, a larger classical group is referred to as an orchestra of some type or a concert band. A small orchestra with fifteen to thirty members (violins, violas, four cellos, two or three double basses, and several woodwind or brass instruments) is called a chamber orchestra . A sinfonietta usually denotes a somewhat smaller orchestra (though still not

560-497: Is the band leader . In classical music, orchestras, concert bands, and choirs are led by a conductor . In orchestra, the concertmaster (principal first violin player) is the instrumentalist leader of the orchestra. In orchestras, the individual sections also have leaders, typically called the "principal" of the section (e.g., the leader of the viola section is called the "principal viola"). Conductors are also used in jazz big bands and in some very large rock or pop ensembles (e.g.,

600-698: The Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, No. 1 in South Africa, No. 12 in Australia and New Zealand and No. 10 in Germany. The group's lead singer was the former Plastic Penny vocalist, Brian Keith, who later became a session musician . With no further top 40 hits, The Congregation was a transatlantic one-hit wonder . The band changed its name on releases in the United States to avoid confusion with

640-480: The AOR and city pop genre. Because of its sometimes similar sound to the oboe , the soprano saxophone can be confused with it by listeners. The soprano saxophone may also be used as a substitute when an oboe is not available. The soprano saxophone is also sometimes confused with the B ♭ clarinet . The clarinet has a distinctly different timbre, is usually much quieter, can play an augmented fourth lower and

680-509: The Mike Curb Congregation, which also recorded "Softly Whispering I Love You". (All UK releases on Columbia of Columbia Graphophone Co./EMI; US releases leased to Atco and Signpost) This article on a United Kingdom pop music band is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Musical ensemble Music ensembles typically have a leader. In jazz bands, rock and pop groups, and similar ensembles, this

720-449: The altissimo register, which allows them to cover these notes and play even higher, usually regardless of their instrument's keyed range. Many sopranos made since the 1990s feature detachable necks and will include one straight and one downward-curved neck. A fully straight soprano must be held upward and outward while playing, which allows it to project well and can allow for a more energetic appearance in performance. A curved neck allows

760-455: The timpani , bass drum , snare drum , and any other percussion instruments called for in a score (e.g., triangle, glockenspiel , chimes, cymbals, wood blocks, etc.). In Baroque music (1600–1750) and music from the early Classical period music (1750–1820), the percussion parts in orchestral works may only include timpani. A wind orchestra or concert band is a large classical ensemble generally made up of between 40 and 70 musicians from

800-422: The wind machine or cannons . When orchestras perform music from the 20th century or the 21st century, occasionally instruments such as electric guitar, theremin , or even an electronic synthesizer may be used. A vocal group is a performing ensemble of vocalists who sing and harmonize together. The first well-known vocals groups emerged in the 19th century, and the style had reached widespread popularity by

840-430: The wind quintet , usually consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn; the brass quintet , consisting of two trumpets, one horn, a trombone, and a tuba; and the reed quintet, consisting of an oboe, a soprano clarinet, a saxophone, a bass clarinet, and a bassoon. Classical chamber ensembles of six (sextet), seven (septet), or eight musicians (octet) are fairly common; the use of latinate terms for larger groups

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880-508: The 1840s by Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax . Built in B♭ an octave above the tenor saxophone (or rarely, slightly smaller in C), the soprano is the third-smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists (from smallest to largest) of the soprillo , sopranino , soprano, alto , tenor , baritone , bass , contrabass , and subcontrabass . The soprillo and sopranino are rare instruments, making

920-428: The 1920s. The soprano has all the keys of other saxophone models (with the exception of the low A on some baritones and altos). Soprano saxophones were originally keyed from low B to high E ♭ , but a low B ♭ mechanism was patented in 1887 and by 1910 nearly all saxophones were keyed to low B ♭ including sopranos. During the 1920s it became standard for sopranos to be keyed to high F. Starting in

960-574: The 1940s. Vocal groups can come in several different forms, including: A group that plays popular music or military music is usually called a band; a drum and bugle corps is a type of the latter. These bands perform a wide range of music, ranging from arrangements of jazz orchestral, or popular music to military-style marches. Drum corps perform on brass and percussion instruments only. Drum and Bugle Corps incorporate costumes, hats, and pageantry in their performances. Other band types include: See List of musical band types for more. Women have

1000-422: The 1950s, high F ♯ was offered as an option on some sopranos, and by the 1970s most professional-level instruments had a high F ♯ key. Nearly all sopranos made today are keyed to high F ♯ as standard, and some recent professional sopranos (e.g. those made by Yanagisawa , Selmer , and Yamaha ) may have a high G key next to the F ♯ key. Additionally, skilled players can make use of

1040-591: The Animals , is called an undecet , and a group of twelve is called a duodecet (see Latin numerical prefixes ). A soloist playing unaccompanied (e.g., a pianist playing a solo piano piece or a cellist playing a Bach suite for unaccompanied cello ) is not an ensemble because it only contains one musician. A string quartet consists of two violins , a viola , and a cello . There is a vast body of music written for string quartets, making it an important genre in classical music . A woodwind quartet usually features

1080-400: The addition of a double bass. Terms such as " piano quintet " or "clarinet quintet" frequently refer to a string quartet plus a fifth instrument. Mozart 's Clarinet Quintet is similarly a piece written for an ensemble consisting of two violins, a viola, a cello, and a clarinet, the last being the exceptional addition to a "normal" string quartet. Some other quintets in classical music are

1120-1202: The alto and tenor saxes in jazz , the soprano saxophone has played a role in its evolution. Greats of the jazz soprano sax include 1930s virtuoso Sidney Bechet , 1950s innovator Steve Lacy , and, beginning with his landmark 1961 album My Favorite Things , John Coltrane . Other well-known jazz players include: Wayne Shorter , Mack Goldsbury , Paul McCandless , Johnny Hodges , Walter Parazaider , Oliver Nelson , Bob Berg , Joe Farrell , Lucky Thompson , Sonny Fortune , Anthony Braxton , Sam Rivers , Gary Bartz , Bennie Maupin , Branford Marsalis , Kirk Whalum , Jan Garbarek , Danny Markovitch of Marbin , Paul Winter , Dave Liebman , Evan Parker , Hanah Jon Taylor, Sam Newsome , Kenny G , Jane Ira Bloom and Charlie Mariano (including in his work with bassist Eberhard Weber ). Other notable soprano saxophonists include Julian Smith , Joshua Redman , Jay Beckenstein , Dave Koz , Grover Washington Jr. , Ronnie Laws , LeRoi Moore , Sarah Skinner of Red Dirt Skinners , and Nigerian Afrobeat multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti . Big band music sometimes calls for an alto or tenor saxophone player to double on soprano saxophone, particularly

1160-490: The gender composition of heavy metal bands , it has been said that "[h]eavy metal performers are almost exclusively male" "...[a]t least until the mid-1980s" apart from "...exceptions such as Girlschool ". However, "...now [in the 2010s] maybe more than ever–strong metal women have put up their dukes and got down to it," "carv[ing] out a considerable place for [them]selves". When Suzi Quatro emerged in 1973, "no other prominent female musician worked in rock simultaneously as

1200-446: The instrument to be held somewhat downward and still maintain a proper mouthpiece angle, which makes for easier use of a music stand and can reduce fatigue in the right arm for some players. Some also believe that a curved neck gives the soprano a warmer, less nasal tone, although this is the subject of debate among players. However, some players, technicians, and engineers prefer one-piece sopranos over those with detachable necks because

1240-442: The lead alto. Similar to the flute , the soprano saxophone is culturally associated with smooth jazz and easy listening . Thus, it is often the subject of various instrumental " background music " played in elevators , hotels , supermarkets , shopping malls and other indoor facilities. Kenny G has become a colloquial icon of the instrument, featuring in occasional commercials and internet memes. Julian Smith inspired by

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1280-463: The neck receiver/tenon system is prone to excessive wear and can develop leaks over time, hindering the instrument's playability if not corrected. Due to many players' preference for curved necks, occasionally one-piece instruments are bent during manufacturing above the octave key (e.g. the Yamaha YSS-62R and YSS-82ZR). Some manufacturers also produce fully curved sopranos which look much like

1320-401: The reasons that there are rarely mixed gender bands is that "bands operate as tight-knit units in which homosocial solidarity – social bonds between people of the same sex... – plays a crucial role." In the 1960s pop music scene, "[s]inging was sometimes an acceptable pastime for a girl, but playing an instrument...simply wasn't done." "The rebellion of rock music was largely a male rebellion;

1360-431: The same keys and range as the traditional straight soprano, but as with the necks, some players believe curved and tipped-bell sopranos sound warmer and less nasal. Due to the higher pitch of the soprano, it is more sensitive with respect to intonation than the lower saxophones, so a player must have more skill with breath support , tongue and soft palate position, and embouchure (collectively known as voicing). It

1400-502: The soprano the smallest saxophone in common use. A transposing instrument pitched in the key of B ♭ , modern soprano saxophones with a high F ♯ key have a range from concert A ♭ 3 to E 6 (written low B ♭ to high F ♯ ) and are therefore pitched one octave above the tenor saxophone. There is also a soprano saxophone pitched in C , which is uncommon; most examples were produced in America in

1440-457: The timpani, bass drum, snare drum, and any other percussion instruments called for in a score (e.g., triangle, glockenspiel, chimes, cymbals, wood blocks, etc.). When orchestras perform baroque music (from the 17th century and early 18th century), they may also use a harpsichord or pipe organ , to play the continuo part. When orchestras perform Romantic-era music (from the 19th century), they may also use harps or unusual instruments such as

1480-607: The women—often, in the 1950s and '60s, girls in their teens—in rock usually sang songs as personæ utterly dependent on their macho boyfriends..." Philip Auslander says that "Although there were many women in rock by the late 1960s, most performed only as singers, a traditionally feminine position in popular music." Though some women played instruments in American all-female garage rock bands , none of these bands achieved more than regional success. So they "did not provide viable templates for women's on-going participation in rock". About

1520-786: The woodwind, brass, and percussion families, along with the double bass. The concert band has a larger number and variety of wind instruments than the symphony orchestra but does not have a string section (although a single double bass is common in concert bands). The woodwind section of a concert band consists of piccolo, flutes, oboes (one doubling English horn), bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon), soprano clarinets (one doubling E ♭ clarinet, one doubling alto clarinet), bass clarinets (one doubling contrabass clarinet or contra-alto clarinet), alto saxophones (one doubling soprano saxophone), tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone. The brass section consists of horns, trumpets or cornets, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas. The percussion section consists of

1560-462: The work of Kenny G , placed third on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, doing a solo performance in each of three appearances with a soprano saxophone. In some popular music interpretations, the soprano saxophone is commonly paired with FM-type electric piano and electronic drum sounds to create a smooth, R&B -like arrangement. It is also popular in Japanese music , most commonly within

1600-750: Was used by Richard Strauss in his Sinfonia Domestica , where included in the music are parts for four saxophones, including a soprano saxophone in C. It is also used in Maurice Ravel 's " Boléro " and has a featured solo directly following the tenor saxophone's solo. Vincent d'Indy includes a soprano in his opera Fervaal . Notable classical soprano saxophonists include Carina Rascher , Christine Rall , Michael Hernandez, Eugene Rousseau , Kenneth Tse , Jean-Yves Fourmeau , Jean-Denis Michat, Vincent David, John Harle , Mariano Garcia, Claude Delangle , Arno Bornkamp , Timothy McAllister , Christopher Creviston and Anders Paulsson . While not as popular as

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