Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax turned 200 on November 6! (Or would have, if he was still around.) But what IS still around is the musical instrument he invented, the saxophone. Hailing from Dinant, Belgium, Sax was the son of an instrument maker who ran an instrument shop in Brussels. He created his first “saxophone” in 1840, along with a family of “saxhorns,” including the saxotromba, saxhorn, and saxtuba. He was said to have been searching for an instrumental voice that bridged woodwinds and brass instruments. His instrument was granted a patent (that covered 14 variations and sizes of saxhorns) in 1846. He passed away in 1894; by then his namesake instrument had reached widespread public acceptance and was featured everywhere from military bands to orchestral works. According to The Music Trades, more than 90,000 saxophones are sold per year.