Dan Da - Vietnamese Stone Chimes (lithophone)

The dan da is a lithophone, or a set of stone chimes that have been found in numerous archeological digs in Vietnam dating from more than four thousand years ago. However instruments are still made in Vietnam from volcanic glass and other forms of stone. This is a contemporary instrument collected and played by Randy Raine-Reusch, and is tuned in a perfect diatonic scale with a very clear resonant sound. The stones are suspended and struck with either wooden or rubber tipped mallets. This instrument is now in the MIM in Phoenix.

Country: Vietnam
Region: Asia
Type: melodic percussion