C soprano saxophone

Not to be confused with soprano saxophone or C melody saxophone.

C Soprano Saxophone

B♭ soprano saxophone (left), silver-plated C soprano saxophone (center), E♭ sopranino saxophone (right).
Woodwind instrument
Classification	Single-reed
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	422.212-71 (Single-reed aerophone with keys)
Inventor(s)	Adolphe Sax
Developed	1840s
Playing range
In C: sounds as written.
Related instruments
Sizes: Soprillo Sopranino Soprano Alto Tenor Baritone Bass Contrabass Subcontrabass Orchestral saxophones: C soprano Mezzo-soprano C melody Specialty saxophones: Aulochrome Tubax
Musicians
See list of saxophonists

The C soprano saxophone is a member of the saxophone family. It closely resembles the more common B♭ soprano saxophone but is pitched a tone higher. Unlike most other saxophones, it is not a transposing instrument, a quality it shares with the C melody saxophone. The C soprano has a very similar range to the oboe.

In the early 20th century, the C soprano was marketed to those who wished to perform oboe parts in military band, vaudeville arrangements, or church hymnals. C sopranos are the same shape as B♭ sopranos and differ in length by only around 3 centimeters. C soprano saxophones usually have a "C" stamped on them, close to the serial number. The same companies that made C melody instruments manufactured C soprano saxophones (e.g. Conn). As with C melody instruments, production of C sopranos commenced circa 1919 and ended around 1929.

In classical music

The C soprano saxophone 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.