Knock on Wood

Item details

• Description +

  • Many years ago, two students asked me to compose a piece in the style of National Romanticism. My immediate response was a firm, “No—I can’t write in that style.”
    
    But then, I started listening to the music of Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar, along with Johannes Brahms’ two sonatas for clarinet and piano. Hmm… maybe I could write something in that style after all.
    
    Stenhammar inspired the fanfare-like introduction and the flowing eighth-note accompaniment on marimba. Brahms influenced the melody, which I envisioned for clarinet or violin. As for the harmonies? They might lean more toward a French aesthetic than traditional National Romanticism. And the jazz influence? That emerges most clearly in the middle of the piece, when the marimba bursts into a lively dance. Still, the result undeniably carries the spirit of National Romanticism—knock on wood! "
    
    Knock on Wood" exists in two versions: one for Violin & Marimba and another for Clarinet & Marimba. Later, I expanded on this style with Frontside for Violin, Clarinet, & Marimba—continuing my exploration of that ever-elusive National Romanticism sound.

• Instrumentation +

  • Clarinet or Violin and Marimba

• Watch+

  • Performed by Duo Granmo-Berg
    
    

• About the composer +

  • Daniel Berg is a Swedish composer, musician, and professor in classical percussion at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and at the Academy of music and drama in Gothenburg.
    
    In his passion to promote the marimba as a solo- and chamber music instrument, Daniel has worked intimately with a number of composers who have written original music for the instrument. This includes more than 300 world premier for solo and chamber works. Daniel Berg is a marimba artist of Bergerault and Elite Mallets.
    
    As a composer Daniel has written a lot for solo marimba like Mistral (for Michael Burritt), Phoenix (for Robert van Sice) and Yán Jiâng (for  the Taiwan World Percussion Competition). His music for percussion ensemble have been appreciated and often performed like Kroumata (for sextet) and Arctic Nights (for quintet) - all published by Edition Svitzer.

• Credits +

  • Artwork (photo) Cover: Bengt Berglund
    Photo (Duo Granmo-Berg): Eva Staxäng
    Photo (Bengt Berglund& Daniel Berg): Pernilla Berg
    Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
    Copyright © Edition SVITZER
    www.editionsvitzer.com

Related publications

Dark Shadows

KINKAKU-JI

Yán Jiāng (Magma)

Kroumata

Bird of Prey

Concerto for Trombone and Percussion

Frontside

Arctic Nights