Slit Gong (Atingting Kon), mid– to late 1960s. at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. The towering slit gongs of nort
Slit Gong (Atingting Kon), mid– to late 1960s. at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. The towering slit gongs of northern Vanuatu are among the largest freestanding musical instruments on earth. Found primarily on Ambrym, Malakula, and neighboring islands, they are carved from the trunks of large breadfruit trees, hollowed out to create a resonating chamber with a narrow slit-shaped aperture. The edges of the slit are struck with clublike wood beaters, producing deep, sonorous tones. A number of gongs, constituting an informal orchestra, stand on the village's dancing ground. These gong orchestras are played at major social and ceremonial occasions such as initiations, dances, and funerals. Through carefully coordinated actions, the drummers in the gong ensemble produce rhythms of immense variety and complexity.
Size: 3401px × 5120px
Photo credit: © Sergi Reboredo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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