French classical saxophone virtuoso, Marcel Mule, is regarded as a master of his instrument on a par with figures such as Luciano Pavarotti, Nicolo Paganini, Jascha Heifetz, and Arthur Rubinstein.
In fact, so great was his influence that it’s likely the saxophone wouldn’t have become so popular throughout the music world were it not for Marcel Mule’s visibility and fame as an international performer, recording artist, and master teacher.
Defining the Style
Marcel Mule possessed a world-class technical and expressive command of the saxophone. Although he played with a straight tone (no vibrato) early in his career, Mule became the first classical player to use a lower jaw vibrato in performance after experimenting with the technique in dance bands of his time.
Mule was the saxophone section leader of La musique de la Garde républicaine (Paris military band) from roughly 1921-1936. This experience led to world concert tours.
New Repertoire
Early literature for the saxophone consisted largely of Mule’s own transcriptions of famous classical works. He commissioned solo and quartet works by several leading European composers to include Gabriel Pierné, Darius Milhaud, Jacques Ibert, Florent Schmitt, and Alexander Glazunov. Many of these works became a standard part of the classical repertoire for saxophone.
Recordings
Marcel Mule, along with German contemporary Sigurd Raschèr, established a world-standard classical saxophone performance through both solo and quartet literature.
These landmark recordings influenced and inspired countless players worldwide who became famous performers and teachers themselves, such as Jean-Marie Londeix, Daniel Deffayet, Frederick Hemke, Eugene Rousseau, Harvey Pittel, Donald Sinta, Claude Delangle, among others.
Selected Marcel Mule Recordings:
Education
Marcel Mule was Professor of Saxophone at the famous Paris Conservatory from 1944 until his retirement in 1967. The had been no saxophone at the conservatory since Adolphe Sax (the instrument’s inventor) last taught there in 1870.
Mule was the first master saxophone teacher to codify a pedagogy system (teaching method) to include embouchure, breathing, tonguing, intonation, vibrato, musical line, style, and playing technique on the daily practice of scales, arpeggios, articulation, and melodic etudes.
The famous French publisher, Alphonse Leduc, published an extensive series of scale books, etude books, and solo transcriptions used by Mule in his teaching and performance.
Selected Marcel Mule Method Books:
Saxophone Design
In the early 1950s, Mule collaborated with the Selmer instruments company to develop the Classic Mark VI model saxophone.
A Book About Mule’s Life
With this book written by Eugene Rousseau and published by Étoile (1982), anyone can learn more about the saxophone’s genius.
Conclusion
Marcel Mule’s legacy as a French classical saxophonist transcends the boundaries of his instrument, placing him among the revered masters of music history. His profound influence not only popularized the saxophone globally but also established him as a virtuoso on par with celebrated figures like Pavarotti, Paganini, Heifetz, and Rubinstein.
Mule’s impact is multifaceted, extending from defining a distinctive saxophone style to expanding its repertoire. As a section leader in La musique de la Garde républicaine and later a renowned professor at the Paris Conservatory, Mule shaped the saxophone’s pedagogy, leaving an indelible mark on generations of players.
His collaborations with esteemed composers resulted in a repertoire that became integral to classical saxophone literature. Mule’s influential recordings, particularly alongside Sigurd Raschèr, set a standard that inspired countless musicians, fostering a lineage of performers and educators.
In addition to his musical contributions, Mule’s collaboration with Selmer in designing the Classic Mark VI model saxophone further solidified his imprint on the instrument’s evolution.
Eugene Rousseau’s comprehensive biography offers a glimpse into Mule’s life, allowing enthusiasts to delve deeper into the genius behind the saxophone. Marcel Mule’s legacy is not merely that of a master saxophonist but a visionary whose artistry, pedagogy, and instrument design continue to resonate in the world of classical music.
