The Hang: A Swiss Idiophone

The Hang, a unique musical instrument classified as an idiophone, originated in Switzerland. Its distinctive "UFO" shape is crafted from 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 precisely hammered. The bottom ("Gu") is a smooth surface with a central, rolled 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 stemmed from extensive research into steelpans and other instruments.

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