On September 15 (2008) I finally got to visit the hang makers, Felix and Sabina, at the 'hanghaus' in Bern, Switzerland, where they hand make their amazing creations.
The modern workshop is a stone's throw from the old hanghaus - a wooden shed right on the river, which has a history of social/musical hang gatherings and a place for 'pilgrims' to come to choose their revered-in-advance instruments!
Our Swiss friend Thomas came with Sahayak and me to share in this experience, which was really something special - in fact the highlight of our trip so far.
It was mostly Sabina who spent time with us, though Felix came and had a chat for a while as well. I warmed to both of them immediately - they have a really good vibe. They were very generous with their time and happy to share information ... thoughts, ideas, inspiration, and something I missed out on by having my hang freighted to Australia in the first instance - a bit of a run down on ways the hang can be played.
It was great to discover the ways one can play the 'gu' (the hole underneath), and how the hang can be placed sideways between the legs in order to play both the top and bottom side at the same time.
We also got to play a few of the hanghang (plural of hang) that were there ready for their new owners to come and collect - including a French couple who came to get theirs the same afternoon that we were there. It was wonderful to witness their entry into hang ownership...especially with my own experience still fresh in my mind.
It was interesting and surprising to see such a range of colours - from a very dark metal to an almost copper coloured metal. It was also very surprising to discover, on playing the various hanghang, that I did not find a resonance at all with some of them - I assumed I would. I'm so glad I experienced a wonderful resonance with my own hang straiight away, and I'm so glad it was the one that made its way to me. No doubt the ones that didn't resonate with me will find a beautiful resonance with whoever they are meant to go to.
They had also just recently had new, larger backpacks made to fit the natural fibre cases into, so I was able to purchase one for the convenience of carting it around that way - an unexpected bonus.
Sahayak was also enraptured to be able to offer them in person his hand written request for a hang - to go on the waiting list until such time as one is meant to come to him!
After we'd been there a while and talked through most of the sharing, we were given the keys to the old hanghaus to go down and see the early prototypes, which are kept there. They were quite a laugh! A world away from the current hang - experimental stepping stones to it really, and an amazing piece of history.
Sabina also showed us the tuning process (with ear protection on all of us!) which was fascinating.
We had a fair insight into it all from the documentary DVD that arrived with the hang, but being there in person gave it a whole other dimension.
What was clear in the DVD and also in connecting directly with Felix and Sabina was the passion, commitment, sincerity, heart and phenomenal intuitive skill they bring to the process of birthing these other-worldly instruments into existence. The ripples they are creating are no doubt beyond what they or anyone could possibly fathom.
Others have tried to copy the hang, and no one has yet come close - nor will they ever be likely to, given how many decades of dedicated effort Felix and Sabina have poured into researching and developing the hang.
...and the hanghang journey from the hanghaus into the world is still evolving, with the purist intention straight from the hearts of these rare and amazing beings - the world's only hang makers!
the hang
Story and photos of my visit to the hanghaus
The prototypes...weird and wonderful in all shape and sizes!
'Hangin' with the hanghang at the hanghaus!