Hang® Balu
Category: Instruments Author: PANArt
The Hang Balu enables a musical exchange in a collective, far away from expectations and pressure to perform. The Balu instruments offer themselves as a common denominator, as a universal language to which everyone has access. If you play collectively, you only need a small contribution from the individual player to create a complex network of sounds together — always carried by the pulse, the bass.
- You play an instrument together — together you become an instrument.
Some examples of playing together with the Hang Balu-Set can be found here.
In 2018 the PANArt tuners returned to the lenticular form of their successful sound sculpture, the Hang®sculpture. Their lens-specific sound characteristic, known as the cathedral effect, is a charming magical quality and can now be embedded in a concept of collective play. The deep cavity resonance, the Helmholtz resonator, is placed in the center of the instrument instead of the bright sounding “Ding”.
The experiences made with the Ringding of the Hang®Gubal permitted the PANArt tuners to create a set of instruments which allow music-making in the collective beyond the connotation of carnival.
Four instruments were created: Balu Sui, Balu Sai, Balu Sei and Hang®Godo. Their basic tuning can be assigned to an F2.
The tuners have worked intensively on the quality of the sound: It has been intentionally kept short, resulting in a rhythmic and transparent kind of play instead of a mishmash of sounds. It is solidly tuned, allows dynamic, rhythmic playing and keeps its pitch. By hammering, smoothing and peening, the raw material of the Balu obtains a special energetic quality. Playing it should activate rather than sedate the player.
Furthermore, the open, hexatonic tuning of the Balu allows instant composing in a modal setting. Balu players create flowing music with almost infinite rhythmic and tonal possibilities. While playing, they merge into one instrument, carried by the pulse of the vascular sound. The ego is moderately woven into this art form. Relaxed music-making can take place – without the pressure of having to perform: Being embedded in the world of music, accessible to all individuals.
The sound body rests on the lap while sitting, whereas the music is elicited with the hands. The dance of the hands on the complex instrument is primarily intuitive. The special feature of the Balu set is making music beyond the dictates of right and wrong. It’s all about being musically together with other people and letting one’s musical language flow.
Playing the Balu is a royal discipline: Each player has an orchestra on his lap: pulsating bass (Gu), percussion and a wide range of different timbres. In the flowing music, the human voice is also easily stimulated: Rhythm, sound, movement and singing are inseparably united. Meanwhile, the Godo has become an impulse to spontaneous musical creation.
Take a seat, listen, lay your arms on the Balu and come in.
Christopher Baron, longtime Hang-player and music therapist, about the Hang Balu: Hang® Balu’s Musical Vitality
The Balu voices:
The frequency of the cavity of the lens is an F2, the whole instrument is harmonically tuned to it. The palette of sounds of the Balu opens a sound range of 7 octaves. The Balu voices excite mutually through the air (producing a so- called cathedral effect).
If you are interested, please contact us at balu@panart.ch.
The purchase price for a sound sculpture "Hang Balu" incl. natural fibre case, backpack, cleaning spray and 7.7% VAT is CHF 2500.
A Balu-Duo (2 Balu instruments, including natural fibre case, backpack, cleaning fluid and 7.7% VAT) costs CHF 4500.
A complete Balu set (Hang Balu Sui, Hang Balu Sai, Hang Balu Sei, Hang Godo, incl. natural fibre case, backpack, cleaning spray and 7.7% VAT) costs CHF 6000.
Balu Instrumentarium:
Music after work
Balu 1
Balu 2
Balu 3
Balu 4