The Hang
- November 9, 2005
- By Michael Kaulkin
- Category Shmategory
- 11 comments
NOTE: An update to this item was posted on September 12, 2006. You’ll find fresher information there.
One day last week while walking in Golden Gate Park, I heard an attractive percussion sound coming from near the fountain by the de Young. I went to investigate and discovered This Guy sitting on a bench and gently tapping what looked like a flying saucer or an inside-out steel drum. The sound was captivating; very similar to a steel drum, only the pitches were much more focused and rang for much longer. The guy playing it in the park was able to achieve counterpoint and harmony.
After listening for a while, I asked about the instrument, which I found out is called a “Hang” and made by a company in Switzerland. It looks like the Hang is in such high demand that you can’t even order one until March of next year.
Further research has revealed that… well, that there isn’t a lot of information on the internet about it, one exception being this very thorough site. The Hang is made to order, which means you choose the pitches (7 or 8 ), so virtually any scale can be achieved, including non-Western ones. The site referenced above also has a library of mp3 examples of various modes and scales.
It’s a beautiful sounding instrument, but I wonder how practical it would be to write for it as a classical composer. My first thought was how great it would be to have this in an orchestral percussion battery, but since it would require the orchestra to have access to a hang in the exact tuning your piece requires. (I think they cost in the neighborhood of $600) Maybe someone will get into the hang rental business.
The name “hang” is said to be from a Swiss German dialect’s word for “hand”. Hooray for David Kaetz (same site referenced above) for also knowing that “hang” is the Hungarian word for “sound”, “tone” and many related words. He has a very fun dictionary of Hungarian words based on the root “hang”.
M.Keiser
interesting. I have held for a long time the belief that if we want to change up the sound of an orchestra we need to change the instruments themselves, or add, or subtract in some way… shifting emphasis on different combinations, of new instruments.
Rimsky Korsakov tried to do this, i think, but im not sure how sucsessful he was with his piccalo trumpets and contra bass flutes.
interesting non the less.
M.Keiser
successful, oy vey.
I can spelle.
Michael Kaulkin
I’ll bet, if we were to look into it, the percussion section has seen the most useful additions over the past several decades.
Hucbald
I fell instantly in love with that sound. It would be perfect for the orchestra.
Will Laughlin
Orchestra, schmorqestra. The thing to do is to attract the attention of more percussionists, so they can add it to the standard list of available instruments. Then, with a few good new pieces, a little luck and some creative lobbying, maybe we can get it slipped into the orchestra through the back door. It worked for brake drums…
I agree it’s a lovely sound. Like a steel drum played pizzicato (?). How about a Duo for Hang and Bass Marimba? Oooo, that would be nice.
Meagan
Ohhhh, the links to hangmusiccanada didn’t seem to be working. I really wanted to hear this hang music that I’ve never heard of before. Oh well.
Anyway, you have an interesting blog and I’m glad to have found it!
love meagan
joshua samson
Hello dear Hang lover,
to hear more Hang music please visit http://www.soundclick.com/musicforhang just register as a listener or musician (free) and listen or download various Hang songs. I just came back from switserland from a visit to the hang house and played the 2nd generation af instruments. Since 2000 I’m in love with this amazing instrument and it has taken me literally all over the world playing with groups, orchestras, solo and more. If you want to write for the Hang I would like to perform the music for you. Just beware of the fact that the Hang has 8+1 notes per instrument so the number of notes is limited however as a percussionist the combination rhythm, limited harmony and melody are still endless
All the Best
Joshua Samson
Bruce
I want to buy some to resell, do you have any sources. Hang.com asks for a password
Hang-Music.com
Have a look on the Hang WebRadio :
http://www.hang-music.com
Jo Gillespie
Hi, thanks for this information! I first saw a Hang being played by a busker in Nelson, New Zealand. My children (3 and 1) were spell-bound, as was I! We listened for about half an hour, and my 3 year old daughter spontaneously put her arms up and started swaying and dancing to this beautiful sound. We live in Italy, and I have just discovered that one of my students plays this instrument, as well as the tabla. He brought his Hang in to class today, and played it for us. So beautiful! He improvises, but the sound is always tuneful, and harmonious. He told us that this instrument is used a lot now in music therapy for children with mental disabilities. I thought it would be great to compose music for Reiki on it.
Thanks also for the links. Will be doing further research!
Jo
PS
I need to know how can I buy one HANG? Please, If someone can help?… Time is dead-Time is what you make of it!
I’ll thank you.