The Speaker

The speaker is an omniscient narrator, and little is shown about who they are personally; there is no age, gender, or ethnicity attributed to them. They can arguably be considered Catholic for their foray into religious imagery, but it’s just as easy to interpret them as being critical of the same imagery. The speaker seems to have an insight into different moments of time, a “God-like” perspective that sees into the eyes of everyone in the scene. There is a tenderness in the speaker’s voice that suggests an affinity to the music and all it stands for.

Adolphe Sax

Adolphe Sax, a Belgian inventor, is mentioned only in the opening line as a way to establish the poem’s premise and tone. The first stanza focuses on his nocturnal activities and the impact his act had on the world. He is presented as a historical...