Introduction To the Hang

The Hang (pronounced hong) is a type of percussion instrument similar to the steelpan. The hang was invented in Switzerland and there are only two makers in the world. To buy a hang, the prospective owner must compose a hand-written letter to the hang makers at PANArt, explaining their desire of ownership. Hangs are very rare and very expensive.

This photo is representative of some of the phases that the Hang has gone through. In the front-center is the very first Hang creation. The Indian Ghatam (front-right) was an inspiration for the creation of the Hang in 2000.

The Hang is typically played resting on the player’s lap, and can also be played on a stand. It was the result of many years of research on the steelpan and the study of the diverse collection of instruments from around the world, such as gongs, gamelan, ghatam, drums, bells, etc. Udu-like sounds can be produced with the Helmholtz resonance that can occur within the clamped shallow shells. It also has the capacity to ring like a singing bowl. (Wikipedia)

The Ding side contains 7 tone fields which together form the “tone circle” (scale or mode). This circle surrounds a central dome, called the Ding, which sounds like a Gong. On the Gu side (underneath), there is a hand size hole called the Gu for sound resonance. The Gu can also be played like an udu, or used to modulate the sound of the DING. The instrument is generally held in the player’s lap and played with the hands, although it can also be played with soft mallets. By changing the position of his/her knees, the player can change the deep note and vary the timbre of the instrument while playing. The Caribbean steelpan is probably the most important new acoustical instrument to develop in the 20th century. Since its invention in Trinidad some 50 years ago, improvements in the technology and design have resulted from research in Europe and the United States in addition to its home country of Trinidad and Tobago. It has also inspired the development of new steel instruments, such as the PANG family of instruments and the hand-played HANG. (Oddmusic)

Sources: Wikipedia, Oddmusic