Knock on Wood

Allan Blank

This article is a stub. If you can help add information to it,
please join the WRP and visit the FAQ (left sidebar) for information.

Subtitle: For 4 Players on 12 Wooden Instruments

General Info

Year: 1972 / 1974
Duration: c. 4:10
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Music for Percussion, Inc.
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $6.50

Instrumentation

Full Score
Percussion I-II-III-IV

12 wooden instruments, 3 instruments per player (instrument choice left to the player)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Instrument selection is the key to Knock on Wood. Twelve different wooden instruments are required for the execution of this ensemble work. Each player is responsible for three of the twelve instruments.

- Program Note from publisher

Allan Blank's aptly named Knock on Wood uses tuned pieces of wood struck by mallets. Blank's piece was unusual because it involved actual melodies, written up and down the staff like music for violins or pianos. Most percussion is untuned, and the notes and rests are written on a single line of the staff to indicate rhythms, pauses and entries without specifying pitch. When they deprive themselves of melody, percussion composers have to rely on the other elements of music -- contrasts of rhythm, texture and dynamics; contrasts of slow and fast movements; different kinds of strokes; dialogues between high and low voices, between the sounds of wood, metal and skin, or of skin drumheads with and without snares.

- Program Note The Washington Post

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Symphonic Band Percussion Ensemble - 15 April 2021

Works for Winds by This Composer

Knock on Wood (1972)
Wind Quintet (1970)

Resources

Blank, A. (1974). Knock on Wood: For 4 Players on 12 Wooden Instruments [score]. Music for Percussion: New York, N.Y.
McLellan, J. "Percussionists Expand Horizons." The Washington Post. 7 September 1995. Web. Accessed 14 April 2021