The Hang: A Swiss-Made Idiophone

The Hang, a unique musical instrument classified as an idiophone, originates from Switzerland. Its distinctive "UFO" shape is formed by two deep-drawn, nitrided steel half-shells, glued together at the edges, leaving a hollow interior. The top ("Ding") features a central note and seven or eight surrounding tone fields, all hammered into the metal. The bottom ("Gu") is a smooth surface with a central hole, producing a tuned note when the rim is struck. It's also known as a handpan.

The Hang's design incorporates principles similar to steelpans, but adapted to function as a Helmholtz resonator. Its creation represents years of research into steelpan construction and other instrument designs.

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