Recently, my friend Matt Venuti played a beautiful solo in a small private setting in San Francisco. The solo was performed on an unusual rare instrument called the Hang, created in Switzerland. Below is a sample of his performance.
More about the hang and Matt below:
In the not-so-distant past two ingenious Swiss artists fused two lap-sized steel hemispheres into a structure that resembled a flying saucer. From there they sculpted an elaborate tuning matrix that became a springboard for creativity…igniting a renaissance in the world of musical instrument performance and design. Their instrument was called Hang (meaning “hand” in their language), and Matt Venuti’s latest CD, Hangisphere, unveils the wonder and beauty of this magical vessel for boundless inspiration.
Popularized by millions of YouTube viewers and countless bloggers, as well as the appearance of players jamming in public centers around the world, the Hang is one of the most widely accepted new acoustic instruments in many years, and arguably one of the most captivating and versatile of all time. The Hang is not a drum, though it is often referred to as one because it’s played with hands and fingers in a percussive manner. It has a resonance, physical makeup, and range of technique options that transcend simple classifications.
The Hang is typically played sitting on a person’s lap. From the upright position the sound can be reminiscent of harp, keyboard, acoustic guitar, wind chimes, steel pan, and bells. When the Hang is inverted the timbre recalls ethnic percussion such as Udu, Ghatam, and Tabla. Played vertically with access to both ends a player is capable of making the music of a small ensemble.
A skilled Hang player can ring it like a singing bowl, play bass lines, coax rich overtones, pluck it like a harp, chuck it like a rhythm guitar, and express beautiful melodies…even chords. A sequence of notes can induce a hypnotic arpeggio. A hand glancing the surface conjures a snare brush. Notes can be muted and bent, or resound bright and brassy.
The tone can have a buttery quality, a throaty timbre, or whisper as a soft wind or gentle rain. Effects and electronic processing can transform the Hang into the equivalent of a compelling synthesizer. It is not uncommon to hear reports of mystical experiences related to the Hang. The sounds emanating from it can soften the heart and lift the spirit of both player and listener.
The above explanation was taken from Matt’s site. Listening to him perform is always a treat.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
