Comment from Edith
Time: October 3, 2006, 8:37 am

Amazing! I haven’t got a clue what it is, and where the harp-like sounds actually come from.

Comment from Tim
Time: October 3, 2006, 8:57 am

Sounds like a Caribbean steel drum - i.e. parts of the dome have been hammered to resonate at different frequencies.

Comment from greytop
Time: October 3, 2006, 9:14 am

Sounds like a modern version of the theremin, the original electronic music machine where the hands altered the feedback circuit of an oscillator. See Youtube for examples.

Comment from Enrique
Time: October 3, 2006, 10:14 am

I’ll second Tim, it’s a kind of steel drum. Wikipedia has examples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steelpan

Comment from Ben
Time: October 3, 2006, 11:42 am

Thanks guys. I hope to go back today and ask him exactly what it is.

Comment from natas
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:13 am

its actually a chinese instrument, i’ve played one in a music shop, cant remember the name of it, but it was very easy to play and sounded like a cross between a steel drum and a xylaphone

Comment from mike
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:18 am

can someone please find the exact name of this instrument? looks like a blast to play.

Comment from Eicos
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:27 am

It’s called a steel drum. Really not that amazing, as he kept playing the same admittedly nice broken chords over and over again.

Comment from ward
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:31 am

wow i find that sound super calming. nice.

Comment from Karynda
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:32 am

I’d love to know the actual name of that instrument as well as the name of the 2 instruments the woman was shaking.

Comment from DocLee
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:32 am

It’s called a HANG. Made by PanArt.

Comment from willi
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:35 am

Nice video, I was going to say it’s similar to a steel drum, but I would also be interested to learn the ‘real’ name of such an instrument.

Comment from Dopeness
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:38 am

Looks like one of those round BBQ’s turned upside down

Comment from millet
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:39 am

http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om16250.html

Comment from K4P741N
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:48 am

Wow that melody almost put me to sleep

Very nice and I’m glad you got to find out the name!

Comment from Paul454
Time: October 4, 2006, 4:51 am

….come on y’all….it’s a chinese upside-down wok….dahhh

Comment from jesusthelord
Time: October 4, 2006, 5:31 am

Almost angelic…almost. That’s me playing, by the way.

Comment from DJDole
Time: October 4, 2006, 5:58 am

It’s an idiophone.
I suspect homemade.

Comment from DJDole
Time: October 4, 2006, 6:04 am

Props to DocLee.
Sorry I missed that comment.
Cool instrument though.

Comment from rhawk301
Time: October 4, 2006, 6:22 am

Nah, I have seen this done before. They have a boom box hidden next to the lady doing the percussion, running some custom synth music.

Comment from FiremanBob
Time: October 4, 2006, 6:40 am

You can listen to more Hang playing at this website:
http://www.hang-music.com/
Kind of sounds like smaking a weber grill cover to me…Soothing not the less.

Comment from yes
Time: October 4, 2006, 7:36 am

think about how easy it would be though to just play a few chords over and over for tips at the local square :p

Comment from Berkana
Time: October 4, 2006, 7:41 am

I believe iti s a cymbalom or gamalan or something like that.

Comment from kiddingright
Time: October 4, 2006, 8:32 am

A Theremin? You are kidding right? It sound absolutely nothing like a theremin

Comment from P
Time: October 4, 2006, 9:35 am

It’s a nice setting for this kind of music too - evening in a park, strolling families. Watch that kid, he can’t stop himself from dancing

Comment from Edith
Time: October 4, 2006, 11:24 am

@ Berkana: no, gamalans are Indonesian instruments which consist of a gong in the middle and several xylophone-like parts:

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Indonesian/Budaya_Bangsa/Gamelan/Main_Page/main_page.htm

Comment from Chris Nowakowski
Time: October 4, 2006, 2:37 pm

It’s a Tibetan bowl upside down.

Comment from Keith Hudgins
Time: October 4, 2006, 2:52 pm

Wow, guys, the answer’s been posted twice, including a link. It’s called a Hang, hit the link above at http://www.hang-music.com

It’s a real instrument, it’s a relatively recent creation, and it’s pretty amazing. Check that website for information.

Comment from JMo
Time: October 4, 2006, 3:12 pm

It is called a Hang. I know a dealer in Philadelphia if anyone is interested.

Comment from scott
Time: October 4, 2006, 3:58 pm

I’ve seen this before! When I was a dancer and University, we used to have this drummer/percussionist who would come to class and play a beat for us - he had one of those. I don’t remember the name, but he says it comes from….Switzerland!

I really should get more details before I make a comment like this.

Comment from laqrhead
Time: October 4, 2006, 6:19 pm

I hate hippies.

Comment from toxin
Time: October 5, 2006, 12:04 am

I want this Hang drum! Please post links and such of where to purchase one.

Comment from ValenciaSon
Time: October 6, 2006, 9:00 pm

http://www.mannettesteeldrums.com/MSDproducts.htm

Comment from ceoofca2va
Time: October 7, 2006, 2:20 am

umm. i guess its sum kind of reversed steel drum. i’ve never seen it b4. thats all the input i can give

Comment from mik
Time: October 7, 2006, 12:22 pm

hang in there guys….they are available from april to the end of summer…you will have to go to PANArt in bern to get one

www.myspace.com/in2nationworkshops

Comment from Torbz
Time: October 7, 2006, 4:48 pm

There’s also a UK Hang Forum coming up soon - for all you folk who’ve never seen one but wanna play one.

Visit www.hangfan.co.uk for more info about the Hang and the event.

Comment from Janice
Time: October 7, 2006, 6:12 pm

The instrument in an inverse steel drum, with the sides removed and the edge polished so it can be used on your lap instead of how it is usually used on a stand, with the musician playing it standing. Lovely idea. Not everyone is able to stand, and this creative take instrument makes it not only more portable, but makes the instrument playable regardless of someone’s abilty to stand, weather out of choice or necessity.

side note: I dont have special musical knowledge . You can thank Mr Rogers (american children’s show presenter) circa mid to late 1970’s for the identification of the instrument. He showed the children watching how steel drums were made on one of his shows.

Comment from mkr
Time: October 20, 2006, 7:24 am

ok, guys give it up - it’s called a hang drum. you hear a bunch of clips on youtube w/ it.

Comment from Fishon
Time: November 1, 2006, 8:54 am

This is a Hang drum made in Bern, Switzerland. They do not ship the drums anymore. They do not make the standard models anymore. Very hard to get. I emailed the makers, and they replied that you would have to arrange a visit to them, and choose and play from the drums they have on hand. Each drum is unique and a work of art.

Comment from caitlin
Time: November 26, 2006, 8:44 pm

a street performer in edinburgh told me it was called a ‘chad’ but i don’t know the spelling. He said it originated in switzerland

Comment from rebekah
Time: December 14, 2006, 10:02 am

wow…amazing that so many people have never seen the instrument- it is in fact a HANG…pronounced “hung”….and yes it is amazing …and i would give $1000.00 to find the man i fell in love with in barcelona who is the best hang player in all of spain……..

Comment from uccellini
Time: December 14, 2006, 10:57 am

is there anyone in barcelona that would like to make a little money? Seriously, my sister fell in love with a boy in barcelona- he plays the hang near the picasso museum…they spent only hours together and she hasn’t been able to forget him since. We have his photo- and if anyone could just deliver a message to him- we would pay them $1000.00 after the message was received.

Comment from April
Time: February 28, 2007, 12:12 am

The instrument is call a “Hang Drum”.Its was invented by a Swiss man. It is basically a portable steel drum. They are hard to come by. If you have any info. or find any info. on where to purchase one, please let me know. I’ve been looking for months and can’t find one anywhere!

Comment from visitor
Time: May 8, 2007, 7:43 pm

Heeh, rebekah .. It is very unlikely that you are visiting this forum here again, but I seriously think your guy might have been Ignacio Rodriguez .. Try planetahang at gmail dot com and ask him! Luck! No money neccessary, just drop me an email to aaaslaid at gmail dot com if he was him!

Comment from toby
Time: August 24, 2007, 2:10 am

“visitor” is absolutely right - the guy is Ignacio Rodriguez and he sells CD’s of his Hang music - listening to it now. why do the cd’s matter? because they have his phone number on it, in case the case of unrequited love is still unresolved… tobyb at cheerful dot com if needed - no charge(!) he was still there outside the Picasso museum a coupla weeks ago.

Comment from andy
Time: October 13, 2007, 3:33 am

This is a panarts “hang” drum

Comment from alyssa
Time: November 14, 2007, 12:20 am

it’s called a Hang Drum (pronounces “hung” or “hong.”

i saw a girl playing one in the Gothin Quarter of Barcelona last week and couldn’t belive it. Wish they weren’t so incredibly expensive, i’d like one!

Comment from K-do
Time: January 31, 2008, 5:48 pm

It amazes me that such a soothing and unique instrument has no set manufaturer. It seems easier to pull teeth than aquire a hang drum. Switzerland here I come.