Description

There’s percussion, there’s drums and then there’s a gong Not every band or music project needs one but when you want resonance, …great Asian infused sound and a sustain that lasts until you’re off stage, packed away and half way home you need a gong Used for everything from ceremonies to stage shows the Gong is a traditional instrument that takes the form of a flat, circular metal disc which is hit with a mallet Symphonic Gongs The oldest version of the instrument, Symphonic Gongs have a slightly raised surface (without boss) with a harmonic and universal sound structure The fundamental note of the gong is balanced with the instrument’s complex overtones The characterizing word Symphonic thereby should not be misinterpreted as describing the literal sense of classical symphonic orchestra application but its original sense to unite harmonic sounds The describing word universal shall be understood as “sound in its entirety” Priming the Gong Large flat gongs may be ‘primed’ by lightly hitting them before the main stroke, greatly enhancing the sound and causing the instrument to speak sooner, with a shorter delay for the sound to bloom Keeping this priming stroke inaudible calls for a great deal of skill We love these unique pieces here at Andertons From the day they arrived instore they’ve garnered great attention

Here’s what Paiste have to say about this gong

Our oldest version of the instrument, Paiste Symphonic Gongs have a slightly raised surface with a harmonic and universal sound structure The fundamental note of the gong is balanced with the instrument’s complex overtones A good starting point for a gong collection, the Symphonic contains even proportions of various gong characteristics, which can be brought forth using different mallets and striking points Symphonic Gongs feature some of our largest examples of the instrument, like the 60 SGM and the extraordinary 80 , the world’s largest gong Gongs belong to the oldest and most important musical instruments of South East Asia Their origins may be traced back to the second millennium B C , but it is assumed that the gong is much older In Chinese history, gongs are mentioned around 500 A D , attributed to a nation called HSI YU between Tibet and Burma during the reign of Emperor Hsuan Wu Historic research provides us with four main centers – Burma, China, Annam, Java – at least 7 gong shapes and sound structures stem from these regions Only few families knew the tradition of gong making as it was passed from generation to generation The art of making gongs was veiled in a sense of magi