Playable BooksCecil Forsyth · section 12 of 60
No. 8. The Gong
Read and hear this section in the playable edition →
Fr. It. and Ger. Tam-tan.
This instrument, as it comes to us from China, is a broad circular plate of thick hammered metal. The edge of the plate is turned over all round the circumference, so that the instrument has the shape of a shallow sieve. Gongs are of course also made in Europe, but the secret of their successful manufacture seems to elude the Buropean. Chinese, Japanese, and Burmese gongs are far superior in size and tone-quality to any which we seem able to make.
The tone of a large Chinese gong, when properly elicited,' is strange and imposing. Unfortunately, there is some difficulty in bringing out this tone properly.A single heavy blow produces nothing but a dull unpleasant sound of sinall power and bad quality. The
often a startlingly picturesque effect, but for that very reason it cannot be used more than once in a musical work. A crescendo roll pp to ff might be employed, but there is a danger here. The instrument has associations with the dinner-table.
In the Theatre the Gong has been in constant use from the days of La Vestale to those of Madame Butterty. Its effect is by turns solemn, mysterious, and terrifying.
1 Some of the largest temple-gongs in Japan are set in vibration merely by the moistened thumb of the priest.
1 sott Bass-Drum stick is generally used as beater, and the part 1 sually written on one line without clef. All that was said witl regard to the Cymbals' persistent vibration and the consequent necessity of writing notes of accurate length apples with as great force to the Gong. It Is, however, somewhat difficult to damp a large gong when once it has been set in vibration.