The Gong Show

Gongs On Threadleaf Japanese Maple Tree

By David Blampied

I still can remember the day I purchased my Paiste Symphonic gong like it was yesterday. A modest 32” gong, I could not wait to get home and put it behind my kit, and even more anxious to use it during a live performance.

 performing with my Modest Paiste Gong

Of all the musical instruments I have purchased over the past several decades this gong was the instrument I researched the least. I knew only a Paiste gong would do, and that was that. I just pretended not to see the balance on the receipt as I signed for it…and quickly signed it.

After whacking the hell out of it for the first couple of minutes I decided to take a decibel reading of this monster. After about 12 to 15 good whacks with a gong mallet; I stood back about 10 feet and took a reading; 120 decibels, about 10 decibels LESS that a jet airplane taking off. Holy shit this thing is loud, really loud!

As a musician, and performer I have taken a turn down a lot of different roads to broaden the horizons of my knowledge of music, the history of music, and instruments. Arguably percussion instruments were probably the first instruments ever crafted by man, and the first played. There also have been claims that the flute, or a flute “type” instrument was the first crafted by man, but it just makes sense that primitively it’s easier to so our prehistoric ancestors banging on things.

LAAN TONG Mekong Basin Cultural Park to see the cultural performers representing six nations of this fascinating region. The largest gong in the world plus blossoming gardens amid the hills of Mae Chan.

It is presumed by historians that gongs were made and used before the second millennium B.C.  They are the oldest and most genuine musical instruments of South Eastern Asia.  But they are not noted in Chinese history until about 500 A.D.  Chinese history attributes gongs to the HSI YU nation, located between Burma and Tibet.
It is believed by historians that Java, Annam, Burma, and China were the main gong producing centers.  It is known that these centers produced at least seven gong forms and corresponding sound-structures.  Therefore, Gongs have for a long time been at the center of thoughtful system of sound and music.
Gong making in Asia, like bell making in Medieval Russia, was a true ancient family secret. Gong makers' knowledge was considered so set-apart, that they believed the making of a successful gong requires the assistance of higher powers.  Indeed, this is true - whether it was the higher power of the universe, its Creator or both, creating a gong requires forces and powers that human beings did not invent.  The process of gong making is so intense that gong artisans understood they were exposed to powerful forces that most people are never exposed to.

For centuries, a gong was a symbol of success and status among Asian families - and still is to a degree. 
Gongs and gong bowls in the Tibetan spiritual tradition have the deepest links with the cosmos and the spiritual world.  It was not unusual for monks to use gongs to invoke spirits, maybe bad spirits (this is not recommended but, nonetheless, part of gong history).
There are many uses for a gong.  Both in ancient times and today gongs have been used for essentially the same purposes: to communicate; make announcements; make music; accompany life's events; meditate and heal.

This video is from the Memphis drum shop


For centuries or longer gongs have been essential elements in celebrations, funerals, theatre & songs. The gong was an orchestral instrument in the palaces and Asian high society.  People enjoyed the rich musical vibrations of gongs in private concerts, residences and orchestras.  As European orchestras have a violin section it was not uncommon for Asian Orchestras to have set-ups with eighteen different gongs.
Gongs are no longer in Asia alone.  They had been traveling around the world for centuries.  In Europe, gongs have been used in orchestras since around 1790 (Mozart was about 35). European orchestras often called flat gongs "Tam Tam" and bossed gongs "Gong".  But no what what you call you can when you bang it you will know what the term "GONG" continues to resound around the globe.

So, in recent reading on the web I came across this story of a chap Dr. Mark Temperato (RevM) who has put together a completely massive drum set, which also happens to have the world’s largest symphonic gong.

Mark Temperato with his massive drum set, features the world's largest Symphonic Gong, custom made by the Paiste Company in East Germany

 

"This 7ft Symphonic Gong was custom made exclusively for Mark Temperato Ministries by Paiste in East Germany. It is hung 18 ft in the air directly behind my drum set. I play it with sticks, large gong mallets, brushes and hurl soft balls at it from 30 ft away. The sound is out of this world!

If hit too hard and too long (never in the center with mallets) it has the capability of disintegrating your internal organs. This was told to me by Eric Paiste of Paiste Cymbals. I once played it with the gong mallets hard for 1 minute nonstop with custom ear plugs and my vision was blurry on and off for about two weeks. It is to be respected for sure."

I can only speculate on what this monster cost to have custom made, my guess is that this gong had a price tag of around $100,000.00 dollars or more. One can only imagine the difficulties involved in transporting, and setting up this thing.

Death of hearing tissue at 180 decibels, it’s hard to imagine an instrument that could literally tear your internal organs apart, and create severe brain damage.  Well to each his, or her own. We really do live in an age of excess. At least my gong can’t kill you, but as far as brain damage; the jury is still out on that one.