Friend of mine, Matt , in the USA, sent me this request to find a drum:

"I just discovered the wonderful music of a hang drum on you tube. I so want one. They seem like they are impossible to buy. And can only buy if u go to switzerland. I don't see that happening any time soon. Man you can't even find them on ebay!!! Does anyone have any websites or know anyone that has one for sale. I would love to play for my kids at night before they go to bed. And if you don't know what a hang drum is you should definatley check them out. There are many videos on you tube."

Can anyone direct Matt to where one finds a "hang Drum" in Switzerland?

Thanks L

Try Boullard Musique, may be they know, In Morges, VD

http://www.boullard.ch/

you need to write (yes beleive it or not, with a pen and paper) to these people. This is the only way. Good luck

Panart Hangbau AG

Engehaldenstrasse 131, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

Very interesting sound.

" The HANG was invented in Bern in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer from PANArt.

Hang means hand in Bernese dialect. Its design was based on the study of various instruments from around the world, such as the steel drum, gong, udu and ghatam.

It consists of 2 metal hemispheres, one of which contains a resonance hole (GU) and the other of which has 8 small dents and a dome (DING), enabling it to produce 9 different sounds. There are various models of hang with varying tones

Players either place it on their knees or play it on a drum stand. They play with their fingers, their whole hand, the palm, or a mixture of all three techniques. In fact there is no specific technique, allowing everyone to develop their own method and style."

http://www.cranien.ch/en/hang.php

It seems that you need to be "chosen" to buy one of the drums as they have a very limited supply (so you will need to make your case). I have seen prices of CHF 1'200 and EURO 1'200 mentioned as the price on a couple of websites. Someone else might have a better idea.

I've been trying to find one for sale too. With no luck. I wrote a letter but have heard nothing back as yet. The Caisa drum is another option i'm considering. In liue of being able to get my hands on a hang drum. :/

Good luck.

I've been wanting one of those like, forever...
I'll keep this post on my focus list - If I'd ever find one for sale at a decent price I wouldn't have any qualms in breaking my piggiebank to get it, ad I'd be willing to brave the wrath of Mrs. GroOVe!!

Paul

First heard one played in Luzern - I was totally mesmerized. Does anyone know of any good player who could play for my forthcoming big BD?

I heard an italian jazz drummer who used it... name slips at the momt.
However it must be said that it is interesting as an "ambient" instrument, or as a different flavour of percussion. I don't think I'd want to listen to 60 or 90 minutes of Hang improvs - especially if the player only shows up with one instrument (i.e. he can only play in one fixed tonality).

Paul

The guy we heard in Luzern was amazing at getting so many different tones, rythms, styles, on his - the guy in the clip is good, but I agree it is a bit of a drone. He also had one of those new foldable Alphorn - and he was extemely versatile with that too. Got plenty of musicians for other instruments- so plenty of variety on the day, thanks.

Yes - you will get different "tones", "rythms" and "styles" - but you can't change tonality. If you have a Hang that is tuned in D Aeolian, well....that's the notes you can play, finito.
(still doesn't deter me from wanting one badly).

Just as a question - do you play music...?
Your BD sounds like an interesting event!

Paul

I also have become mesmerized by the hang and would appreciate anyone who could give me any recent info on where to buy one in the Vevey area.

Just for good measure here is a brilliant video of an awesome Hang player

http://www.wimp.com/drumsolo/

In the six-string world we have a nice word for something which is pretty rare...

unobtainium


Unless you'relucky enough to find one on fleabay or ricardo.ch (watch out for counterfeits and/or scammers!!).

Alternatively there's an iPhone/Pad app that lets you play the Hang (I kid you not!)

Good luck!

Paul

If there is anyone out there who has got one and would be prepared to teach me - WOW- I'd exchange an intensive/extensive French course with accommodation and food. I am the musical 'failure' of my family, but I'd just (almost) kill to learn the hang.

Recently checked these out and still the only way to get them is to write or visit the folks that make them and I am pretty sure you should not just pitch up there...lol.

If you do actually buy one on ebay or somewhere else, they now won't even concent to fix or tune them anymore, so I suppose they are quite unique musical instraments.

First up, don't call it a drum. Do not use that word if you write to Sabina and Felix because that is Hang suicide It is NOT a d-word.

Secondly, there is a lot of info at http://www.hangblog.org/.

Thirdly they only make a limited amount each year and they decide who to sell them to as demand outweighs supply by a long way. I don't know what their criteria are, just that I have been turned down in the past I live in hope!

They do appear on ebay and other sales sites occasionally, but I get the impression that they are probably sold privately, given Felix's and Sabina's re-sale policy. I have followed a few ebay sales and they have fetched $5-7,000.

I'll keep writing my letters...

Edit: The 2012 quota has already been sold.

we had a friend here last summer visiting from nantes, she had just gone by the place in bern and she had the luck of speaking with them. she went back a few weeks (i think) later and they had one ready for her. she never wrote them and just tried her luck. it worked for her- maybe you could have the same luck?