Asian Gongs - Khong Wong Yai

The Khong Wong Yai (ฆ้องวงใหญ่) plays a leading role in the traditional Thai Piphat ensemble, which is renowned for playing for royalty or religious ceremonies, as well as accompanying traditional Thai theatrical performances. The instrument is known for playing the main melody or theme of a composition.

The Khong Wong Yai is a metallophone, with 16 tuned gongs extending just over two octaves. There are two temperaments available: one western and one Thai, which required two instruments to record.

Etched Sounds has recorded a Thai percussionist from one of Thailand’s leading ensembles, playing both possible temperaments with standard mallets. We have sampled the instruments in a huge amount of detail, utilising multiple positions of high end industry standard microphones, creating another sampling world first* in bringing you this evocative and perhaps unrecognised temperament and sound to your creative work. We really are excited to hear how and where you use this library!

*that we know of!