Description of Agung
The Agung is a set of two wide-rimmed, vertically suspended gongs--Percussion instrument
Used by Maguindanao, Maranao, Sama-Bajau, and Tausug people of the Philippines.
Very heavy instruments-- can be as high as 20 or 30 lbs each depending on metal that it is made of.
When used, they are hung above the floor at or a bit below the waist line, suspended by ropes.
Since there are 2 gongs, the higher pitched,smaller, and thicker of the two is called the pangandungan by the Maguindanao and the p'nanggisa-an by the Maranao.
Origins of the agung are in Indonesia because Filipinos were fond of musical gongs coming from Cheribon on Java, Indonesia.
Technique of Playing Agung
People stand beside instrument while playing, holding the upper edge of its flange between the thumb and the other fingers.
Mallets are called balu, and they are made from short sticks about 1/2 foot in length and padded with a soft but tough material such as rubber at one end.
Number of mallets being used by player varies
Patuy is a technique in which player uses only one balu, but he/she is required to play the agung in reverse order of pitches.
