Hang

The Hang is a relatively new instrument, created in Switzerland by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in the year 2000. The instrument is the result of many years of research into a diverse range of resonating percussion instruments including the steelpan, gong, gamelan, ghatam and bells. Hang, pronounced ‘hung’ means hand in Bernese, as it was created to be played by hand to deliver it’s fullest potential. Udu-like sounds are produced through resonance and the sounds of the clamped shallow shells sound like bells or harmonically-tuned steel pan drums. The inner note on the top dome is the bass note, which when played in a dampened way allows a change in pitch akin to a talking drum. Seven to nine notes are tuned harmonically around a central deep note.

The Hang evolves each year as the inventors discover new ways to build and fine-tune it.