Soprano Saxophone Buescher Elkhart, Indiana, United States 1914 Silverplated brass, mother-of-pearl (on the keys), leather (keypads), cork, ebonite (mouthpiece) 69,2 cm (Le) x 9,3 cm (Diam. of the bell) St. Boniface Museum, Canada

On a lovely spring afternoon, my family and I landed at the New Orleans airport in Louisiana. At the beginning of our stay in the land of the Cajuns, I knew that this would be an experience to remember. The first night we spent in this enchanting city where even the buildings echoed with jazz and blues tunes changed my point of view about this music that comes straight from the heart of its composers and interpreters.

The next day, we went to Baton Rouge where we had the impression that only Cajuns could live there. It was a day filled with amazing discoveries. In the evening, my parents decided to visit the corner bar. Because they were a little tired from the flight, they decided that a little diversion would be in order. My brother, my sister and I went strolling on the brightly lit streets.

From the very first step, I heard the same New Orleans jazz tunes from the previous evening. One special sound made my heart skip a beat. It was a high-pitched sound, very clear and penetrating but so beautiful and calm that it was the only sound that my ears could hear. After I had spent quite some time trying to find the source of the sound, I asked an elderly passer-by with a timeworn face what this instrument was. He replied "That's a saxophone, my son". I responded jokingly, "But saxophones are curved, aren't they?"

He explained in the tones of a teacher, "This is a soprano saxophone. The soprano has a clarinet mouthpiece and the fingering of an oboe like all the other saxophones but it is straight and not curved." His wrinkled face was full of wisdom and proved to me that he was telling me the truth. I thanked him and shook his hand and he just left.

I sat down on the curb and began to listen. My brother and sister returned to the hotel but I decided to stay to enjoy the melodic sound of this bewitching brass instrument.

The musician spoke of Sidney Béchet, saying he was his hero and one of the pioneers of the soprano saxophone. A little later, he dedicated his musical piece to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone. I thought that a man who was able to create an instrument that could produce such a sound should be recognized. Surely, we owed him this recognition if we love music and this instrument. It was a magical evening and after finding every constellation in the cloudless sky, I went back to the hotel to sleep and to dream.

The third day we spent in Louisiana was spent partly in the local library to learn more about this classical aerophone. I learned that the saxophone, its creator built it in 14 different sizes, was originally intended for military music and wind ensembles. Today, only four sizes of saxophones are currently used: the soprano, the alto, the tenor and the baritone. I also discovered that the saxophone uses keys to open and close the various holes in its sound tube and that felt and cork are used to cushion the keys and make sure they are airtight. I found that totally fascinating!

The last two days of our stay were devoted to visiting Louisiana historic sites. Even if I only spent five days in the land of the Cajuns, I discovered that everyone has a little Cajun or Cree or Welsh or Saxon or any other culture in their spirit. The captivating language of the music lifted our spirits and we were carried away momentarily. This unforgettable time filled us with peace and deeper understanding. For some, music is a way to express themselves, for others it's a diversion, but for everyone, it is a treasure.