gong history

A quick history lesson

Gongs are thought to have existed in various forms for several thousand years, being one of the earliest metal instruments known. The earliest gong was probably a copper disk but copper is acoustically inferior to bronze so it is unlikely they were developed as musical instruments. Indeed the archaeological records for the near east (Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Egypt) show no trace of a gong amongst the early musical instruments. Some people claim gongs go back up to 16,000 years! This is clearly false as early humans were only capable of working copper into small sheet metal from no earlier than 4500 BCE.

During the Bronze Age (roughly 4000–2000 BC) copper was alloyed with tin to give a tougher metal than pure copper. It was used for tools, weapons and shields (amongst other things) and a crude gong may have been discovered by beating a bronze shield as a form of communication or intimidation.

Musicologists suggests that the origin of the modern gong is a country known as ‘Hsi Yu’ located between Tibet and Western China (and now thought to be modern day Turkmenistan), where it was mentioned in the 6th century AD during the reign of Emperor Hsuan Wu (AD 500–516). The Chinese were certainly capable of making high quality bronze drums by this time. But their records show gongs being used as signalling for military purposes by 550 BCE. There are also claims that the gong arrived in China from Greece, via India, during the conquests of Alexander the Great but the archaeology and timelines don’t support this.

By the 9th century, gong-making was well established in Java and other parts of the Malay Archipelago particularly around Semarang in Java. At least seven distinct shapes can be found in this part of the world. Other areas of gong manufacture established themselves in China, Burma and Annam (an area between south-east China and Vietnam).

Gongs were introduced to Western orchestras from China in the late 18th Century and the Italians in Tuscany started making gongs during the 19th Century and the modern Italian firm of UFIP can trace its lineage back to these days. The German firm of Paiste introduced gongs during the 1940’s and has become the predominant maker of gongs in the West.

The current theory about the genesis of the gong is that it was developed from a bronze shield from a civilisation located in modern day Turkmenistan between 1900 - 1000 BCE and that its initial use was that of a signalling instrument.

where did it all begin?

How on earth did humans figure out that banging a metal disc could have such a profound impact? Read on for a potted history of the gong…