Hang? What is that?
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Last Update: March 21st, 2010
Original language: German – English translation by the author
Zur deutschen Version dieses Dokuments
The Hang [haŋ] is a musical instrument which first saw the light of day in Bern Switzerland in the year 2000. It is developed and built by the instrument makers Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer (PANArt Hangbau AG). Its convex body consists of a specially hardened steel that the Hang Makers originally developed for the construction of custom Steel Pans. On top of the Hang there is a central domed note called Ding surrounded by a circle of either 7 or 8 Tone Fields. The lower half shell has a round resonant opening (Gu). The Hang is primarily played with the fingers and hands. This helped to give the Hang its name: ‘Hang’ in the Bernese dialect means ‘Hand’.

A well-arranged guide to the best information sources on the PANArt Hang at the Web is provided by www.hanghang.info. You can interact with Hang players and friends of the PANArt Hang in an internet forum at www.hangforum.com.

