Discovering a Hang Musical Instrument: Ancient Sounds, Modern Times

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recently discovered musical instrument known as the Hang, exploring its sound, design, and cultural associations. Participants share their impressions, comparisons to other instruments, and historical context, while also referencing personal experiences and previous discussions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses admiration for the Hang's sound, associating it with ancient civilizations, particularly the Aztecs.
  • Another participant notes similarities between the Hang and the steel drum, questioning the classification of the steel drum as a "drum" and whether the Hang should also be considered one.
  • Some participants mention the aesthetic appeal of the Hang compared to steel drums and its portability, particularly for urban transport.
  • A participant shares historical context about the instrument's design, mentioning that the inventors created a unique metal for its resonant properties and that each Hang was custom made.
  • There are references to previous discussions about similar instruments in other threads, indicating a shared interest among participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the classification of the Hang and its similarities to the steel drum, with no consensus reached on whether the Hang should be considered a type of drum. The discussion remains open-ended regarding the historical and cultural significance of the instrument.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on personal interpretations and experiences, and there is a lack of definitive information regarding the classification and historical context of the Hang and steel drums.

iDimension
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So I just discovered this awesome musical instrument today and thought I'd share it the forum. What do you think?
I really like the sounds of this instrument, makes me think about ancient civilisations, not sure why... Almost like Aztec's or something.



 
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I think I have already posted similar videos in the youtube classics thread. Or was it the fav song thread?
 
To me the sound is very similar to the steel drum and it looks like the principle is the same. This one is just more compact and inside out, so to speak.

On that subject, is a steel drum really a drum? If so, wouldn't this be a drum? Or is a steel drum called that simply because it's made of a literal steel drum, a storage cylinder made of steel?
 
Looks like two woks on a tripod. Wok and roll?
 
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zoobyshoe said:
To me the sound is very similar to the steel drum and it looks like the principle is the same. This one is just more compact and inside out, so to speak.

On that subject, is a steel drum really a drum? If so, wouldn't this be a drum? Or is a steel drum called that simply because it's made of a literal steel drum, a storage cylinder made of steel?

They're called Hangs or Space Drums but the official name is Hang. Looks more appealing than the steel drums though
 
iDimension said:
They're called Hangs or Space Drums but the official name is Hang. Looks more appealing than the steel drums though
And easier to bring into the subway.
 
Borek said:
I think I have already posted similar videos in the youtube classics thread. Or was it the fav song thread?

Binzing and I discussed them briefly back in July of 2009, after I saw one at the fair.
I just went through the "Best Songs Ever" thread from that point through Jan 2010, and I don't see that you posted it there.
 
I came across these a while ago when I was applying for grad schools. At the time, I had found that the guys that designed it invented the metal that it's made of for its resonant properties. And each one was supposedly custom made in a unique way and they stopped shipping out because they wanted people to come to Switzerland pick out their Hang manually. I considered applying exclusively to Swiss grad schools just so I could get one :P

anyway, apparently they're available for shipping now:
http://www.boullard.ch/

The inventors' site:
http://www.hang.ch/
 
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