The hang with its new companion - a 'D' drone Native American Indian Flute, custom made to be played with the hang. This beautiful flute was crafted for Sahayak by his good friend Matt Shooting Star from SpiritSong Flutes.

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."

I will add to this page as my adventures with the hang unfold further...Sahayak and I are currently on an extended overseas trip, complete with instruments. Musical highlights of our travels so far have been a visit to the hang makers (see 'my hanghaus visit' on the menu on the left) and playing in the Hall of Mirrors Temple at Damanhur (Italy). We are ready, willing and able to play as we make our way around some beautiful parts of the northern hemisphere ... check out our 'Sacred Sound' page if you are interested to know more about this. 

The short time that I've had the 'artpiece' has been enchanting, fascinating and deeply satisfying. I knew it was extra special as a musical instrument, and I was aware of its history as an instrument of healing (sound healing) but I had no idea just how powerfully effective it is as a healing tool. I could tell you some amazing stories already, though suffice to say it's having a big impact.

It feels like it's on a mission, it has a job to do, and I get to have the privilege of going along for the ride! Already, I have played it at Gabrielle Hart's 'HartSpace' evenings (sounding for healing, with a highlight being her amazing Alchemy bowl set, as shown in the larger photo below). It's having quite an impact with everybody, and I hear it's a similar story all over the world. The singing bowls and the hang together is something else again. The first time we tried them together it somewhat literally blew our minds! The hang has already made a guest appearance on one of Gabrielle's CD. (For more on Gabrielle's Alchemy bowls and events, click here)

Gabrielle and I also performed together on stage with two other artists, the internationally successful Carmen Warrington and Fiona Burnett, in a yummy event at Sunshine Beach, which we called 'Sacred Sound Spa'. We had something like 100 people there and they were mostly enchanted :o)  (As was I really!) It was a truly wonderful experience, and there was the call for more.

In late June I was at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in Brisbane to support Gabrielle (who had a stand there as well as performing) and on the Friday I was thrown on stage with just a few minutes notice when two of the main performers couldn't make it. As per usual, the hang blew everyone away, and I was asked to take their slot also on the Saturday and Sunday. Like I said - it seems to have a life of its own and I really need to make sure I keep pace with it all! Prem (from Sacred Earth) was watching one of my performances and gave me some lovely compliments afterwards, along the lines of 'you were really in the zone, the instrument has found the right person and you'll sell lots of CDs'.

I also asked the Venerable Lobsang Tendar to bless the hang, which he did. I felt the energy emanating from it as he did, and it sounds quite different now, a fuller, deeper resonance with more overtones. It seems more and more obvious every day that this is my new path. A number of musicians have approached me to ask if I can play hang either on a CD, at an event, or just in some jam sessions. Lots of yummy flow and with a tendency for rapid developments. Watch this space I guess!

Playing the hang (time lapse), surrounded by Alchemy bowls.

the hang

"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 unification of rhythm and melody"

So...more about this ethereal sounding percussion instrument - that others have already described to me as 'raindrops from heaven' and 'dancing on clouds'... it evolved out of steel drums with an almost accidental invention of the instrument in 2000. It has since evolved to this current model ('the integral hang'). It is called a hang drum, with 'hang' being the Bernese dialect for 'hand' because it is played with the hands. When played, the notes  - A3, Bb3, C4, D4, E4, F4 (no G), A4 and 'ding' D3 (central base tone) - flicker between the eastern and western music scales. It 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 me at different times, depending on what I 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, I didn't like the discipline and structure of reading music and 'following the rules'. Over the last 10 years I have been playing African (djembe) drums and have loved that but felt 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. Manna from heaven!

Ain't it somethin' ?!!!

Felix Rohner and Sabina Scharer, hang makers

My journey with the hang (pronounced hung') began in December 2005, when I had a music jam at my place, and a guy turned up with a hang. I had not seen or heard of the instrument (or 'artpiece' as the hang makers call them) and upon hearing it I was totally captivated and mesmerised. I also got to play it for a while, after which, I was history! From that moment, I had to have one.

I had no idea how rare they were or how difficult they were to buy, but I had a singular focus,  and  a  little  over  two years later, on April 4 2008, I received my hang, freighted from Bern, in Switzerland. (There's a whole story attached to how to buy one, which is not my focus here, so if anyone is interested, explore the menu on the left for a good overview of the instrument and how to apply for one.)

This delightful and enchanting fantasy portrait was created by the very talented and soulful Argnesh Rose. Her aptly named business is 'Give them Wings' and you can arrange it all online!

If you follow these links, please click on the 'back' button on your browser to return here...

The 'D' drone beside a 'F#' drone, and 'G' and 'F' flutes played by Sahayak (all crafted by Matt Shooting Star).