ALERT: Those who wish to obtain a hang, be sure to research the above links for advice and warnings regarding eBay sales and scams.
This ethereal 'sound sculpture' others have described to me as 'raindrops from heaven' and 'dancing on clouds' - my partner Sahayak describes it as 'for this world, but not of this world.' It is so true!
The hang is handcrafted in Bern, Switzerland, with great skill and dedication of heart, by Felix Rohner and Sabina Scharer - the only hang makers in the world.
The hang, in their words...
"The hang has found a resonance in the souls of individuals all over the planet. It sings under the hands of modern pilgrims, on stages large and small, in religious ceremonies, in magical rituals, in therapy practices, in homes and schools. It adds a touch of colour to many styles of music and, in quiet places, it speaks to the spiritual development of the individual."
The hang evolved out of the Trinidad steel pan and Indian ghatam with an almost accidental invention. The first hanghang (plural of hang) was made available for sale in the year 2000. It has evolved over the years, with my hang being the 'integral' hang (2008-09).
'Hang' is the Bernese dialect for 'hand' because it is played with the hands. I have also been told that in Sanskrit hang (and also 'han') means 'I am' - which is Spiritually very significant and blows us away!
When my integral hang is played, the notes - A3, Bb3, C4, D4, E4, F4 (no G), A4 and 'ding' D3 (central base tone) and 'gu' F# (on the underside) - flicker between the eastern and western music scales and rings with various harmonic overtones. The hang carries both masculine and feminine energy. It plays differently for different people and also can play differently in different situations depending on the energetic of the place and the people. When two play it together, it behaves differently from when either person plays it alone. It also plays differently for us at different times, depending on what we need the most at any given time. Fascinating!
One of the highlights for me is that it is an intuitive instrument with a lot of scope. Some 30 years ago I played violin and piano, and while I enjoyed both, the discipline and structure of reading music and 'following the rules' didn't really work for me. Over some 10 years I also played African (djembe) drums and loved that but found the scope too limited. The hang is the perfect answer, with the freedom of intuitive play, with a range of notes and a diversity of sounds, a magical blend of melody and percussion. Manna from heaven! (I share more about this in 'maia's music journey'.)
I'll round off here with a last word from the hang makers, on what they call 'The Tao of Hang Playing'...
"We recommend approaching the instrument in freedom... Touching the hang anywhere engenders a response. Follow it. Let your body interact with the vault of the hang; the hands follow, the fingers dance. Listen inwardly. At times, pay attention to the sound of the hands as they touch the surface, at other times pay attention to the musical results, at other times pay attention to the voices of the angels in the realm of the overtones, and sometimes...pay attention to nothing at all."
looking for more information about the hang?
our hang journey...
maia on the hang
The hang with its companion - a 'D' drone Native American Indian flute, custom made by Matt Shooting Star to be played with this (integral) hang.
Maia playing the hang (time lapse), surrounded by an assortment of incredible Alchemy crystal singing bowls - three are ours, the others belong to Gabrielle Hart. (Playing the bowls and hang together is mind blowing!)
Ain't it somethin' ?!!!
The hang complements a garden in its homeland of Switzerland...or is it that the garden complements the hang?
others play...
