A woodblock (also spelled as two words, wood block) is a small slit drum made from a single piece of wood. The term generally signifies the Western orchestral instrument, though it is descended from the Chinese woodblock. Alternative names sometimes used in ragtime and jazz are clog box and tap box. In orchestral music scores, woodblocks may be indicated by the French bloc de bois or tambour de bois, German Holzblock or Holzblocktrommel, or Italian cassa di legno.[1]
The orchestral woodblock of the West is generally made from teak or another hardwood. The dimensions of this instrument vary, although it is either a rectangular or cylindrical block of wood with one or sometimes two longitudinal cavities. It is played by striking it with a stick, which produces a sharp crack.[2] Alternatively, a rounder mallet, soft or hard, may be used, which produces a deeper-pitched and fuller "knocking" sound.
On a drum kit, a woodblock is traditionally mounted on a clamp fixed to the top of the rear rim of the bass drum.
The muyu (simplified Chinese: 木鱼; traditional Chinese: 木魚; pinyin: mùyú) is a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish and struck with a wooden stick. It is made in various sizes and is often used in Buddhist chanting, in China as well as in other Asian nations including Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Also, in China, a small, rectangular, high-pitched woodblock called bangzi (梆子) is used. Typically used in sets of four different pitches, they are sometimes called "skulls" by jazz players because of their globular shape.[3]
Temple blocks are a set of four or more woodblocks. Modern versions may be made of plastic instead of wood where they are known as granite blocks. Similarly, the jam block is a modern, plastic version of the woodblock.
References
^Blades, James, and James Holland. 2001. "Woodblock". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.
^Montagu, Jeremy. 2002b. "Woodblock", The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-866212-9.
^Montagu, Jeremy. 2002a. "Temple blocks", The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-866212-9.
External links
Media related to Woodblocks (percussion instrument) at Wikimedia Commons
January 21, 2023
woodblock, instrument, woodblock, also, spelled, words, wood, block, small, slit, drum, made, from, single, piece, wood, term, generally, signifies, western, orchestral, instrument, though, descended, from, chinese, woodblock, alternative, names, sometimes, us. A woodblock also spelled as two words wood block is a small slit drum made from a single piece of wood The term generally signifies the Western orchestral instrument though it is descended from the Chinese woodblock Alternative names sometimes used in ragtime and jazz are clog box and tap box In orchestral music scores woodblocks may be indicated by the French bloc de bois or tambour de bois German Holzblock or Holzblocktrommel or Italian cassa di legno 1 WoodblockPercussion instrumentOther namesWoodblockclog boxtap boxClassificationPercussionHornbostel Sachs classification111 242 1 Individual bells Related instrumentsSlit drumtemple blockslog drumsmuyujam block source source The sound of a woodblock The orchestral woodblock of the West is generally made from teak or another hardwood The dimensions of this instrument vary although it is either a rectangular or cylindrical block of wood with one or sometimes two longitudinal cavities It is played by striking it with a stick which produces a sharp crack 2 Alternatively a rounder mallet soft or hard may be used which produces a deeper pitched and fuller knocking sound On a drum kit a woodblock is traditionally mounted on a clamp fixed to the top of the rear rim of the bass drum Related instruments EditLog drums made from hollowed logs and slit drums made from bamboo are used in Africa and the Pacific Islands The muyu simplified Chinese 木鱼 traditional Chinese 木魚 pinyin muyu is a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish and struck with a wooden stick It is made in various sizes and is often used in Buddhist chanting in China as well as in other Asian nations including Japan Korea and Vietnam Also in China a small rectangular high pitched woodblock called bangzi 梆子 is used Typically used in sets of four different pitches they are sometimes called skulls by jazz players because of their globular shape 3 Temple blocks are a set of four or more woodblocks Modern versions may be made of plastic instead of wood where they are known as granite blocks Similarly the jam block is a modern plastic version of the woodblock References Edit Blades James and James Holland 2001 Woodblock The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians second edition edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell London Macmillan Publishers Montagu Jeremy 2002b Woodblock The Oxford Companion to Music edited by Alison Latham Oxford and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 866212 9 Montagu Jeremy 2002a Temple blocks The Oxford Companion to Music edited by Alison Latham Oxford and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 866212 9 External links Edit Media related to Woodblocks percussion instrument at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Woodblock instrument amp oldid 1131139594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
