Fact Finder - Movies

Fact
The Hang Drum in 'Sherlock' (2010)
Category
Movies
Subcategory
Movie Legends
Country
UK
Description
In the BBC's legendary reimagining of 'Sherlock,' composers David Arnold and Michael Price used the Hang drum (or handpan) to represent the character's unique, high-speed thought process. The Hang is a steel instrument consisting of two deep-drawn, nitrided steel sheets glued together at the rim, leaving the inside hollow. It is played with the hands, producing a metallic yet mellow, water-like resonance. The instrument’s modern, quirky, and rhythmic nature was chosen to contrast with the traditional Victorian settings of the original Holmes legend. Its use in the 'Sherlock' score helped popularize the relatively new instrument (invented in 2000) globally, proving that new instruments can help breathe life into century-old movie legends.