Request for comment: temple blocks
As suggested at https://musescore.org/en/node/91686, don't temple blocks have five pentatonic pitches? Currently, MuseScore's "Temple Blocks" instrument is classified among "Unpitched Percussion," and the drumset definition includes only two blocks. Is this genuinely an alternative instrument? Don't we have something seriously missing here?
Comments
Temple blocks can come in lots of different configurations, but indeed sets of five seem pretty common, so probably we should amend the definition. There won't likely be any good playback possible, though, since I don't think GM defines five distinct woodblock sounds.
There is a full range variant at Program number #115 (Woodblock) which gives control over the pitch ranging from MIDI #0 to MIDI #127, it is currently not chromatic though as the scale tuning is set to 20 which sounds as though it gives in/decrements of around 50 cents.
The problem with this is that currently it could not be configured into a 5 note set as it is not a GM Percussion instrument.
The other problem is that it is a wood block sound and not a temple block sound. The temple block has a hollower sound - I'll see if I can source some samples.
In the mean time is it your considered opinion that I should adjust the scale tuning so that Program #115 is properly chromatic?
EDIT: Found some excellent temple block samples. Just need to clear their use with the creator.
In reply to There is a full range variant by ChurchOrganist
I'd settle for wood block sound even if the match isn't perfect. More important, of course, to sort out the notation. Really, we **could* define the drumset to have more than five sounds but assign shortcuts for the msot common 5. Would be interesting to hear from experienced orchestral percussionists on this.
In reply to I'd settle for wood block by Marc Sabatella
Ethan Winer has cleared the use of his samples for a Templ Block Preset which I will add in a different bank of Program #115
I've yet to establish whether I can stretch the samples over the entire MIDI keyboard range, but I should be able to provide a fully chromatic octave.
In reply to Ethan Winer has cleared the by ChurchOrganist
That's plenty. The idea would be to set it up as a pitched percussion instrument, rather than an unpitched drumset?
In reply to That's plenty. The idea would by Isaac Weiss
Do you really see it notated that way? I don't think I ever have, but I don't read a lot of scores that call for them.
In reply to Do you really see it notated by Marc Sabatella
You know more than me—I've never seen a temple block part at all! I was just guessing based on the fact that I know they are pitched, and different sets are made with different pitches.
In reply to That's plenty. The idea would by Isaac Weiss
They're not tuneable so aren't usually classed as pitched percussion.
They come in sets of 2 to 5 the sets being based in varying pitches.
I should take a look at my first implementation - available in the Soundfonts forum.
https://musescore.org/en/node/41521#comment-406311
In reply to They're not tuneable so by ChurchOrganist
I've filed an issue at #95941: Add temple blocks instrument.