Saxophone, family of reed-sounded wind musical instruments. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument-maker Adolphe Sax about 1840. The saxophone combines in its construction the single reed and mouthpiece of the clarinet, a metal body, and a widened version of the conical bore of the oboe. The body contains 20 openings, covered by keys, which can be opened or closed in groups by means of six studs, or finger plates, operated by the first three fingers of either hand. Two additional holes, called pipes or speakers, are used to produce notes an octave above or below the normal range. Most saxophones are curved at the end and resemble the bass clarinet; a few, such as the soprano saxophone, are straight and resemble the standard clarinet. The most common saxophones are the soprano, the alto, the tenor, and the baritone, all of which have a compass of about two and a half octaves. The tone quality ranges from soft, flutelike, and mellow to brassy and metallic. Saxophones were first introduced into the symphonic orchestra in 1844, and orchestral parts have occasionally been written for them, for example, by the French composers Hector Berlioz and Georges Bizet; the German composer Richard Strauss used a quartet of saxophones in his Sinfonia Domestica (1903). Notable solo concert works for the saxophone include a Rhapsody (1903) for saxophone and orchestra by the French composer Claude Debussy and Fantasia for Saxophone and Orchestra (1948) by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. In military bands, saxophones are usually used instead of clarinets. In the late 20th century, saxophones were popular mainly in the United States, where they were particularly associated with the development of jazz. Notable jazz saxophonists include Sidney Bechet; Charlie Parker (alto); Lester Young, John Coltrane, and Coleman Hawkins (tenor); and Gerry Mulligan. Plastic saxophones were used with success by some jazz musicians.