Saxophones!

We began today where we ended yesterday, in the Grote Markt, by joining a walking tour. We learned that Karl Marx resided in the square in the gold embellished Swan House and it was there that he wrote his Communist Manifesto in 1848. hmmm.

Our tour guide was a native of Brussels and it was interesting to hear his views on the politics of his country, which he vigourously shared with the tour group. He also shared his deep knowledge of his city and country as we walked and admired the architecture and sculptures of the Grand Place and its buildings, the Comic Art scene, the stock exchange, the Brussels Park, the cathedral, the church, the royal palace, and the not to be missed Manneken Pis. The bronze statue of the naked peeing boy even has his own wardrobe that is managed by a not for profit organization that dresses the boy several times a week. On the tour we also enjoyed impromptu entertainment by street buskers.

After lunch we visited The Mim, that is the Musical Instruments Museum, which houses a spectacular collection of musical instruments from around the world, including early instruments as well as more modern electronic machines. We listened to music and danced our way through four floors of exhibits. For me, the highlight was the temporary exhibit dedicated to the saxophone.

The saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax in 1841, but was not patented until 1846. Sax, an instrument maker from Brussels, learned the trade from his father. He was a clarinetist himself, but experimented with reed instruments that could be made with brass. He designed a full range of saxophones in b-flat and e-flat. Originally the saxophone was used in military brass bands, but now the versatile instrument is used in all kinds of music making from jazz to symphony orchestras. It is one of my favourite musical instruments.