Etching the surface is an important part of the gong-making process, in terms of creating a consistent surface to play on with mallets and flumies, and also its aesthetics. The intuitive patterns that are etched onto each gong become the creative foundation for the colouring and final individual appearance of each gong .
After firing, each gong is tested for sound quality, and often has additional work done to fine tune and enhance the frequencies that are already inherent in each individual gong.
After careful marking Ashley cold forges each gong into its recognisable gong shape, balancing the tension between the front and rear faces throughout the whole process using a variety of hammers. It takes great strength and accuracy to wield the tools and create consistent results, making this the most labour-intensive of the making stages by far.
We fire our gongs in the Welsh outdoors, using various woods for their different burning properties. We work in collaboration with the elements, where rain, atmospheric pressures and temperatures will all lend a hand in creating the final appearance of the gongs. This, coupled with the artisanal marks of handmaking means that each Awen Sounds gong is utterly unique.
