Instrument d'aujourd'hui ? Le Hang
Hang means "hand" in the Bernese language, and is pronounced "hung or
hong". The Hang was developed in Switzerland. 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. The instrument is played with the
hands. Udu-like sounds are produced with the air resonance, the sounds
of the clamped shallow shells sound like bells or harmonically tuned
steelpans. The inner note on the bottom dome is the bass note, and when
played in a dampened way allows change in pitch like a talking drum.
Seven to nine notes are tuned harmonically around a central deep note.
The hemispheres are hardened by a process known as gas-nitriding. This
is a thermal treatment process in which nascient hydrogen atoms diffuse
into the steel and form nitride compounds with many of the alloys in
the steel.
Listen to a short solo of the Hang being played