Someone Came Knocking: 3-Part Mixed Choral Octavo
Words by Walter de la Mare, music by Bruce W. Tippette
Item: 00-PO-0007844
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Description
Eerie, enigmatic, engaging---your singers will be instantly hooked. The piano introduction sets a buoyant bounce that propels the mysterious story. This moody, minor-key song boasts conservative vocal ranges, echoing motifs, and clear text painting when the singers imitate the sound of tapping beetles and the owl's call. "I listened, I opened, I looked to left and right, but there was nothing stirring in the still dark night." An imaginative and accessible choice for 3-part mixed choirs.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0007844
More about this title
About the Composer: Bruce W. Tippette
Bruce W. Tippette composes for concert stages, film, theater, and dance. He earned his Master of Music in composition from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and his Bachelor of Music in composition/theory and music education from Appalachian State University. His orchestral work Unconquered won the 2012 Mary Starling Composition Competition and has been performed multiple times by the Winston-Salem Symphony. He was selected three consecutive years (2012-2014) to compose new works through a collaborative experimental project between Cirque du Soleil and UNCSA.
Tippette teaches composition, theory, piano, and voice at the Community Music School of UNCSA and serves as Youth Music and Handbell Director at Augsburg Lutheran Church. He works regularly as a collaborative pianist and rehearsal accompanist, bringing deep understanding of what singers and ensembles need to succeed. His compositions span choral and instrumental genres, children's musicals, and original scoring for choreography and film.
Why we love this
Tippette crafts a piece that feels genuinely theatrical without requiring elaborate staging or special effects. The piano introduction immediately establishes atmosphere, and the text painting (beetle taps, owl calls) gives singers concrete musical tasks that make the mysterious narrative come alive. Conservative ranges and clear three-part writing mean your entire mixed choir stays engaged and can execute the piece confidently.
What to expect
Someone Knocking sits in a twilight space: eerie yet inviting, mysterious yet clear. The minor key and sparse piano introduction create unease, but the song's bounce and singable lines keep it from feeling heavy. Singers and listeners alike will feel the pull of that late-night moment when something unexpected arrives at the door.
Who it's for
Three-part mixed choirs (SAB) looking for a secular piece that balances accessibility with genuine musical interest. Works well for choirs that enjoy narrative-driven repertoire and want to explore minor-key writing without extended range demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the piano introduction to establish the buoyant bounce early; this sets listener expectation for the piece's rhythmic heartbeat and carries through the vocal entries.
- Isolate the echoing motifs in rehearsal so singers understand which phrases reflect back on each other. This creates cohesion and helps the mysterious quality land.
- Bring out the text painting moments (tapping beetles, owl's call) with clear articulation and slight dynamic emphasis so audiences hear the storytelling, not just a pretty tune.
- Keep the minor key's natural darkness intact; resist the urge to brighten dynamics during the most mysterious sections. Let the minor tonality do the atmospheric work.
How to use it
Program this as a concert centerpiece for a fall or winter show, where its moody character contrasts with lighter selections. It also works as a strong festival contest choice, since the piece's distinctive character and clear text painting differentiate it from standard secular repertoire at that level.
Skills your students will build
- Reading and maintaining minor-key tonality with accuracy
- Executing text painting and onomatopoeia (beetle taps, owl calls) with clear articulation
- Balancing part independence while tracking echoing motifs across the three-part texture
- Sustaining atmospheric mood through dynamic control and phrasing in a narrative context