Gongs have been around for thousands of years: since people first learned to make large flat sheets of metal. Certainly the ancient Greeks and Romans had gongs, but it is in China, where they are known as Tam-Tams, that they have continued to be used for music and ceremonies right up to the present day.
Gongs In The Orchestra
The first gongs to be played in European orchestras were imported from China. Since then they have become a standard part of the orchestra's percussion kit because of the fantastic effects you can create with them. They can also be incredibly loud!
Find out more about percussion instruments>>
Listen to some gong sounds:
clip 1 -
In this clip from a Philharmonia CD you can hear a gong being played very loud with a full orchestra - scary!
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clip 2 -
A deep sounding gong.
clip 3 -
A higher pitched gong.
Thumb Cymbals or Talam
In India small cymbals have been used for accompanying dances and as part of religious rituals for at least two thousand years. Known as talam or manjira, they are made out of thick brass or steel and produce a long, clear ringing sound. Like many simple instruments there is a lot more to playing them well than many people imagine. Listening to the audio clip on this page will give you an idea of how they can be used in interesting rhythmic ways. ...[more]
Metallophone
The metallophone is similar to other instruments such as the glockenspiel and vibraphone and it has become very popular for use in schools. The name, metallophone is really just a made up word to describe this type of instrument. The origins of metallophones are actually in Indonesia where there are many different types with names such as slentem, gender and saron. For hundreds of years they have been used as part of Gamelan orchestras (find out more about Gamelan by visiting this very informative page)....[more]
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