Saxophones are everywhere now, but it took a lot of initial effort to get anyone to play them. Which is ironic, considering how much of their development was fought by jealous instrument makers. You will recall that Adolphe Sax barely survived past childhood to invent the saxophone in the first place. When he finally did manage to build the first true saxophone in 1841 (a bass model) and was able to get it to a Belgian national exhibit, an unruly competitor kicked the prototype across the floor of the exhibition hall.
Sax, fortunately, had a few important and influential people in his corner. The French composer Hector Berlioz championed the new instrument and Sax. Several bold clarinetists were willing to take a turn at capitalizing on the new novelty, notably Edward A. Lefebre, who decided to make it his life's work to promote the saxophone around the world. He wound up in South Africa in 1859 to set up a music shop where he introduced and sold the new horn to people around the world. From there, the saxophone spread. Saxian Flue. Saxpox. Saxovirus. The Sax-o-Plague.
Poor Sax was seemingly constantly under attack throughout his life. Jealous competitors, who foresaw their market shares slipping away to Sax's creations, took out at least one hit on his life (one of his unlucky assistants took a lethal bullet intended for Sax), and sued him repeatedly for supposedly ripping off their designs. They never really had a valid claim, but the legal proceedings were a drain on Sax's financial and personal well-being.
To be continued...one more time...the third part's reeeeally good!....
Sorry 'bout that...
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