All you need to know about working with gongs/bowls/bells for both performance and sound meditation. Instructional, masterclass, and performance videos covering a wide variety of topics.
Thanks Michael, great video and tips. That is exactly what I was looking for; I do agree recording these types of instruments isn't easy and requires a lot of trial and errors
Yes, the voice could be louder. But if you look, this video is over 10 years old. It was a clinic where I thought they would have a mic and a sound system-but they didn't. I recorded it anyway and at least there is this. Today's technology may allow me to actually remix the audio and bring the voice level up, but I don't have the time, as I'm too busy making new videos. Maybe someday. It would be nice…
when you discuss playing elements, what does this mean exactly- are you channelling the energy/spirit of the elements? could you enlighten us (apologies if you have been into this topic in a past video)
I made a video covering this 3 years ago, but like everything, I've evolved and refined all of this since then: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yRkEE4lT574.htmlsi=fZvOR5aVg9TocDd3 Over on my Patreon page, I have a 7-video series on working with Alchemy and Sound: www.patreon.com/GONGTOPIA
Sadly no books except in English right now. I've had requesters for Spanish, French, German, and now Russian. Perhaps I can translate it into Ebook versions in the future. Anything is possible.
On three occasions I had found small singing bowls at thrift stores. Even though they were lucky finds I felt a little guilty paying so little because clearly the stores thought they were simply decorative bowls.
You need to take these gifts when they are offered to you. I have also found some amazing instruments for very little money because the seller didn't know what they had. I look at this as the instruments being guided to my hands where they are used and well taken care of.
@@Gongtopia Thank you! You've alerted me to another gong maker!!! Do you know what Yin was using to make the bird chirping? The people who attended this camp were very fortunate!
MB, Great addition to your collection. If you mix and match the two sets, you'll find that the 3rd from the left on the top row (G#5) and the 1st on the left on the bottom row (G#4) will produce a nearly perfect octave interval (2:1 ratio). Thank you, Pythagoras! Enjoy.
Those are Balter B17B, which sadly aren't made anymore. They were an extra soft yarn wound marimba mallet designed mainly for the lower note bars of the marimba. I like them because the heads are fairly heavy, which allows them to activate a bigger, deeper tone on the gong, yet they are very sort. The handles are the standard thin birch, like all other similar marimba and vibe mallets, so they have an interesting balance (top heavy) and feel. Some of the other mallet companies make an extra soft marimba mallet, but it's not the same as they have a much smaller head.
Thank you so much, you just confirmed what I already felt. None of my bowls are singing bowls, they are just antique brass bowls that I bought because I like the sound when I hit them. Thanks, you just simplified my life.
All that chiming reminds me of the "bell tree" that I have had to keep disassembled in storage. I have several brands of bells, but predominantly Stagg because I often found those on sale the most frequently. I had them arranged in three columns of multiple cymbal stackers on top of cymbal stackers. I had also discovered that a particular style of older cast aluminum pot lids had the same pure note ring and sustain as official aluminum bells.
I love the slow fade up & down of the video picture from & to, complete blackness. I love the sounds created with just this one gong. “Less is more” more often than not, if that’s not an oxymoron! Gong players often rush to swap between gongs and other instruments (singing bowls etc,) but the focus on one instrument and range of tones can be great.
Well, before you do more, you should do less. While I normally use 6-8 (sometimes more) main gongs in my working set up, I like to set up just one gong and explore the possibilities that it has. This way I find things that I would never look for with multiple gongs. 'Back to the basics' is an important thing to remember, to give you a different perspective on what you do. For those interested, I have a whole series of videos called, 'ONE', where I explore one gong in each video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-L8PP8HuMVMA.html
That is a 36" Wind Gong from Steve Weiss Music. The mallets are Balter B17B (birch handles) Extra-Soft marimba mallets, which unfortunately are discontinued. When I decided to use the big Wind Gong, I grabbed these out of my mallet bag because they are big and soft, but also fairly heavy. I like the way the weight makes it easy to get the edge of the gong moving without a lot of work or motion. Thanks for asking.
A really interesting video which I shall watch again. You definitely influenced me towards the Paiste bronze gongs and I feel privileged to own a 0 and a 4, so magical alongside my earth gong and of course I want to and do play them every day.
When I set up my gongs I ran the cord through both holes and made a loop with a single knot, so that there is a section of rope on the backside of the gong between the two holes. The holes are positioned and the gong is curved in such a way that this section of rope doesn't touch the gong but do you think that the tension between the two holes is affecting sound in any meaningful way?
I enjoyed this video tremendously, I am completely immersed in Gong playing and holding sound baths. I just went and ordered your book so I’ll be starting to read it next week. I look forward to your continued future videos. Love what you do, Michael
Fabulous gong documentary. Thank you for sharing🙏 The two small red mallets ….what are they called? Loved the sound when you used them at the same time.
@@barbaramcallister8234 - Those are Balter 14B medium soft yarn wound marimba mallets (with the rare black shafts). They are nice on bowls, bells, and gongs. You can find them here: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/B14B--balter-ensemble-marimba-mallets-medium-soft?srsltid=AfmBOooImUlKtGG5Z0vZZ1OIOkKu20GKGJPDmNiHZViaNBSwHN625FYCEHE
Hi Michael - thanks always for your informative videos, you've had a huge influence upon me and this relatively new chapter in my musical life playing gongs/percussion. I wanted to bring to your attention that GU is recalling their genius hooks, I had three crack yesterday and I need to change my hooking system for a slew of gigs coming up next week. Earlier I saw that you were using memory locks with S hooks, what size of S hook did you use and where did you find them? Thanks 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for bringing this to my attention about the Genius Hangers. Someone else had contacted me about having them break. I use various sized 'S' hooks that I got at my local hardware store years ago, so I don't have any packaging for the specs, but they are about 1½" - 1¾" long. The diameter varies. The thinner ones I put heat shrink tubing on to make them tight, the thicker ones I had to file down to make them fit.
Hi Michael, very sad about the lost gong players. I was on Phil's Gong Craft course and was literally one of the last people to work with before he was struck down. Is there any news on when and where your book is going to be available in the UK?
This is a marvelous channel to discover as I am about to begin recording Gongs and a set of Crystal bowls. Thank you for your time and insight! Would you recommend SE8 Omni or SE8 Cardioid pair? I am recording a 32” Chau Gong and a 8”-14” set of 7 Crystal bowls. Thanks!
I almost always use cardioid, as it's focused towards the sounds in front of the mic, and doesn't pick up sounds behind the mic. Omni works well in a big room where you want the room sound.
@@Gongtopia thank you for your response! I watched your video on mic placement and I wanted to know if the pair of SE8s would be enough capture the Gong and the Bowls in tandem. Using them like Overhead mics for the bowls but facing the Gong to capture them as well.
