'') in his Requiem
(1990–92). George Benjamin wrote for a single large temple block in At First
Light (1982), and his Sudden Time (1989–93) requires two groups of
them: one of three and the other of six.(Fr. temple-blocs; Ger. Tempelblöcke).
Western
name for spherical slit-drums, often ornately carved, especially in the
abstract shape of a fish (they are classified as idiophones: percussion
vessels; see alsoSlit-drum). The instrument is known as muyu
in China, mokugyo in Japan and mokt’ak in Korea, where it is used
especially to accompany Buddhist chant. Temple blocks are usually made of
camphor wood and brightly painted, with the maker’s initials often carved on
the top; they vary in size from 8 cm across to 80 cm or more, the sound of the
larger instruments resembling that of a muffled tom-tom. The smaller
instruments, which have a softer and rounder tone than ordinary woodblocks,
entered Western music in early jazz and ragtime bands, where they were usually
used in groups of four to seven. Although regarded as unpitched instruments,
they have an element of pitch and in the late 20th century were made in chromatic
sequences: Kolberg has manufactured a series of over two and a half octaves (a–f''').
However usually the pitch is unspecified. Tippett called for five notes in The
Knot Garden (1966–9) and The Ice Break (1973–6). Henze required four
temple blocks in El rey de Harlem (1979) and one and a half octaves (c'–g'') in his Requiem
(1990–92). George Benjamin wrote for a single large temple block in At First
Light (1982), and his Sudden Time (1989–93) requires two groups of
them: one of three and the other of six.
See also Woodblock.
JAMES HOLLAND