Thai Gong

A gong is an East and South East Asian musical instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet. Gongs vary in diameter from about 20 to 40 inches, and are made of bronze containing a maximum of 22 parts of tin to 78 of copper. The gong has been effectively used in the western orchestra to intensify the impression of fear and horror in melodramatic scenes. Gongs can also be immersed into a tub of water after being struck. This is called "water gong" and is called for in several orchestral pieces. Large flat gongs may be 'primed' by lightly hitting them before the main stroke, greatly enhancing the sound and causing the instrument to "speak" sooner, with a shorter delay for the sound to "bloom". This sound uses the following sound file from Freesound (http://www.freesound.org): THAI GONG3.wav by loofa