Welcome to Musical Malaysia
 

Name: GONG
Classification: idiophone
Origin: South East Asia

     Hanging gongs
    Photo credits: Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism, Malaysia

    Gongs form the backbone of most Malay folk music ensembles and are used for nearly every social event. They come in various sizes and are played together in various numbers. Usually, one or two drums are also played to accentuate the main rhythms.

    Gong Agung Gong Suwukan
    Gong Agung                      Gong Suwukan 

    Gongs are found all over Malaysia and are highly valued. They are made locally as well as imported from Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei. Local gongs have shallow rims and a small boss.

    Mallet
    Gong mallet
    Photo credits: Ministry of Culture, Arts & Tourism, Malaysia

    Audio Examples

Audio Example
An example of how the gong sounds