Saxophones Why is it called a C Melody?

[Copstolemywife]

I am new to Sax and I am wondering why it is called a "C Melody Saxophone"? Why isn't it just a "C" Saxophone?

 

[Justin Chune]

I read that the sax manufacturers thought C Melody was a cute name for a sax that allowed the popular music of the day to be played without transposition. Song sheets cost a penny.

Jim.

 

[thomsax]

It's also called C tenor.

 

[Justin Chune]

I always refer to mine as a C tenor. Mine is branded "Hawkes & Son" and plays very well for such an old sax.

Jim.

 

[kevgermany]

http://cmelodysax.co.uk/saxophones/why-c-melody.htm

In a word - marketing

There's also an article on wikipedia - but it appears to repeat quite a few myths, so take it with a pinch of salt.

 

[thomsax]

In the 20's a good home in America were supposed to have a piano and a C (-melody) sax. The C saxplayer could read over the pianoplayers shoulder. I've done that a lot. My wife on piano, singing as well, and I played C sax. I played the singing/melody line without tranposing. We played Swedish folkmusic. I rember Birger Sjöberg was often played and. A nice way to spend an evening. This was before internet (Breakfastroom, SOTW, YouTube, MySpace ...) got into my life.

Thomas

 

[MartinL]

I am new to Sax and I am wondering why it is called a "C Melody Saxophone"? Why isn't it just a "C" Saxophone?

;} Is it possibly because the player would be reading the top line of the piano score, often referred to as the "melody" line, and its in "C"?

Just my guess