The gong is a percussion instrument.
Gong is a term that comes from the English language, although its etymological root is found in Malay. A musical instrument that is sounded by hitting it with a mallet is called a gong.
The gong is a percussion instrument : its sound arises from the impacts it receives. It is a metal disc that is hung from a support, remaining suspended.
History of the gong
It is important to mention that percussion instruments are the oldest. Human beings began making these types of instruments thousands of years ago, using them many times in rituals and ceremonies.
In the case of the gong, it is estimated that it was invented in the year 3,500 BC in the East , being popular especially in China . In its origins, it was believed that the sound of the gong made it possible to pacify the spirit and ward off demons.
It arrived on the European continent in the 18th century . The Frenchman François-Joseph Gossec is said to have been the first composer to include the gong in a symphony orchestra .
Instrument Features
The gong is a bronze or other metal disc that has curved edges. It can be flat or slightly curved and have a variable thickness.
Typically, the gong is hung from two pillars . He who wishes to play the gong must hit it with a mallet.
For the gong to sound, you have to hit it with a mallet.
Since the sound is produced by the vibration of your body, the gong is an idiophone . It does not use columns of air, membranes or strings to sound.
Depending on its characteristics, the gong can produce indeterminate or determinate sounds. When the gong has a protuberance in its center, it must be struck at that point (known as the bulb or nipple ) to generate a sound of a specific pitch.
It is important to mention that the color of the gong sound depends on its materials. Depending on the combination chosen, its benefits vary.
Similarities and differences of the gong and the tamtam
Many times the gong is confused with the tamtam , also known as tam-tam , tamtán , tantan or batintín . According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), the tamtam is a disc with a rim made of a sound alloy. Like the gong, the tamtam is suspended and struck with a hammer.
The tamtam disc is always flat and without a nipple. In terms of sound, the gong is less strident and penetrating than the tamtam.
A common last name and a rock band
Gong is also a frequently used surname in South Korea . According to the onomastics of this country, the patronymic surname is written first and then the given name. Actors Gong Yoo and Gong Myung and actresses Gong Seung-yeon and Gong Hyo-jin are personalities who share it.
Gong , finally, is a progressive rock band that began its career in 1967 . Throughout his career he released more than a dozen studio albums and many others that record different live performances.