Rock gong
111.22 (Directly struck idiophone) | |
| Developed | Antiquity |
|---|---|
| Related instruments | |
| Ringing rocks | |
A rock gong is a slab of rock that is hit like a
onomatopœic, except for "kuge" which is the Hausa word for a double iron bell[3] and "dawal" which is the Ge`ez word for a church's stone gong.[4]
History
Rock gongs have been found in various African locations, such as sites in
Kupgal petroglyph site in India, which was originally discovered in 1892 (though lost and rediscovered in the 21st century), includes a large number of rock gongs alongside rock art. The site dates to the Neolithic period.[6]
Rock gongs were brought to the attention of the
cave paintings, stating that the gongs' proximity to cave paintings "leaves little doubt that they are associated in some way".[8]
Description
Rock gongs are often large
dolerite rocks;[9] Fagg describes examples that weigh up to several tons. They are almost always entirely solid, as playing rocks in other such states would result in a hollow and less metallic tone.[8] Fagg identifies that the tone produced by the vibrating rock is not necessarily influenced by the size of the rock, provided that the resonating stone is not dampened by the solid earth.[8]
Rock gongs would be played by striking the rock's surface with a hand-held stone.
Although often played solo, gongs can be played as an
Ragg tuning fork, a depression on one particular gong was found to have a fundamental frequency of 216 Hz.[11]
Continuous playing of the instrument produces smooth indentations in the rock and a
matte-like texture.[13]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Beck (1995, p. 78)
- ^ Fagg (1997, p. 20)
- ^ a b c Goodwin (1957, p. 37)
- ^ Uhlig, Siegbert (2003). Encyclopedia Aethiopica. Frankfurt: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 108–109.
- ^ Tahir (2012)
- ^ BBC (2004)
- ^ a b Montagu (2007, p. 8)
- ^ a b c d e f Fagg (1956, p. 6)
- ^ Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy (2005, p. 1)
- ^ Soper (2006, p. 25)
- ^ a b Fagg (1997, p. 21)
- ^ King (1958, p. 65)
- ^ Historical Society of Nigeria (1962, p. 42)
Sources
- Tahir, Yahia Fadl (2012), Rock Gongs from the Nile Cataract Region; In: Archaeological and Traditional Contexts, NYAME AKUMA, vol. 77
- BBC (2004-03-19), Ancient Indians Made 'Rock Music', London: BBC Online
- Beck, John (1995), Encyclopedia of Percussion, London: Taylor and Francis, ISBN 0-8240-4788-5
- Fagg, Bernard (1956), "The Discovery of Multiple Rock Gongs in Nigeria", African Music, 1, Johannesburg, South Africa: International Library of African Music
- Fagg, M Catherine (1997), Rock Music, Oxford: Pitt Rivers Museum, ISBN 0-902793-39-X
- Goodwin, A J H (1957), "Rock Gongs, Chutes, Paintings and Fertility", The South African Archaeological Bulletin, 12, Cape Town, South Africa: South African Archaeological Society
- Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy (2005), Site 1: The Rock Gong Complex, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
- Historical Society of Nigeria (1962), Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, vol. 1, The Society
- King, Anthony (1958), "A Report on the Use of Stone Clappers for the Accompaniment of Sacred Songs", African Music, 2, Johannesburg, South Africa: International Library of African Music
- Montagu, Jeremy (2007), Origins and Development of Musical Instruments, Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0-8108-5657-3
- Soper, Robert C (2006), The Terrace Builders of Nyanga, Oxford: African Books Collective, ISBN 1-77922-061-8
Further reading
- Kleinitz, Cornelia; Koenitz, Roswitha (2006), "Fourth Nile Cataract Petroglyphs in Context: The Ed-Doma and Dirbi Rock-Art Survey" (PDF), Sudan and Nubia, 10, London (British Museum): International Society for Nubian Studies: 34–42, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27
- Kleinitz, Cornelia (2007), "Rock Art and Archaeology: The Hadiab Survey" (PDF), Sudan and Nubia, 11, London (British Museum): International Society for Nubian Studies: 34–42, archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27