Remembering that old Chinese gong

When I was in school, as a young budding percussionist in the middle school and high school bands, we had at our disposal one of the most individually unique sounding instruments in the world. Oddly, it was attached by a rope and was hanging from a large metal frame. The Chinese gong was, without a doubt, any young man’s, or young woman’s, favorite instrument to play. Usually, it was played at inappropriate times, inciting the wrath of the band director, but it couldn’t be helped. To be able to take a mallet and strike the gong was quite a unique experience, and makes me wish today that I had one in my house just to play with.