Silence In Sound

02/11/2026

SINGING BOWL RECORDINGS; A journey through Sound

I've been collecting singing bowls, their sounds and recordings since the mid-1970s. That's a lot of years listening, exploring and occasionally disappearing down some rather wonderful sonic rabbit holes!

Over the years, I've often been asked by people new to singing bowls, "Who should I listen to? Where do I begin?"

Well, here's my answer. Or at least part of it.

I've put together a chronology of singing bowl artists and recordings, from some of the early pioneers through to more contemporary explorations.

It's not intended to be a definitive discography. I'm sure I've missed an artist or recording along the way, and some release dates can be surprisingly difficult to establish.

What fascinates me is just how adventurous some of these musicians were.

Long before singing bowls became familiar instruments in today's sound community, artists were experimenting, composing and pushing the boundaries of what these extraordinary pieces of metal could do.

Take Rainer Tillmann, for example. His recordings blended singing bowls with gongs and other unusual sonic textures. Back in the 1990s, he was perhaps one of the earliest musicians exploring what we now recognise as flumie-style playing.

Others took singing bowls into ambient music, experimental composition, improvisation and places far removed from the conventional meditation soundtrack.

These weren't simply people playing singing bowls. They were exploring the possibilities of sound.

Some of the recordings are now difficult to find. A few are wonderfully strange. Others are breathtakingly beautiful. All have something to teach us, particularly if we're prepared to listen beyond the initial strike.

So, whether you're just beginning your journey or you've been travelling this road for decades, I hope this little chronology encourages you to discover something unfamiliar.

And I'd love your help.

Who have I missed? Which singing bowl recordings have influenced you? And are there any forgotten gems hiding in your collection?

This is a work in progress, and I'm very happy for it to remain so.

There's always more to discover.

Craig

29/10/2026

JOIN US IN GREAT MALVERN 13-15TH NOVEMBER

We are delighted to announce that The Original Singing Gongs Open Weekend is coming to the Montgomery Suite, The Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern, Worcs. from 13th-15th November.

This is a wonderful opportunity to come and explore our growing line of handmade Original Singing Gongs, including our established larger gongs in 24", 28", 32" and 40" sizes; and, for this event, we will also be featuring our new 16", 18" and 20" handheld gongs.

These smaller gongs open up a different kind of relationship with sound; portable, responsive, intimate and full of character. Whether you are curious, collecting, performing, teaching or simply listening, we would be very pleased to welcome you.

Open Weekend Times:
13th November: 16.00hrs – 21.00hrs
14th November: 8.00hrs – 21.00hrs
15th November: 8.00hrs – 14.00hrs

Closed for lunch and dinner

Come and spend some time with the instruments, experience their individual voices, and see what makes an Original Singing Gong so special.

Montgomery Suite
The Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern, Worcs.

We look forward to seeing you there. 🙏

27/10/2026

STARGATE 2026....... IT'S A WRAP!

What an extraordinary weekend. What wonderful people. What an adventure!

Our very first STARGATE Creative Sound Immersion & Retreat has come to a close, and we're still smiling, reflecting and trying to find the words to describe what we experienced together.

Over four days in beautiful Mid Wales, twelve adventurous Sound Travellers came together with open minds, creative curiosity and a willingness to explore beyond the familiar.

And explore we certainly did!

There were singing bowls, gongs, waterphones, electronics, experimental soundscapes, musical collaborations and plenty of unexpected discoveries.

There were performances, laughter, conversations, shared ideas, moments of quiet reflection and a few surprises along the way — including our unforgettable Beyond the Stargate adventure into the darkness with Dafydd of Serydda.

But perhaps the greatest pleasure was watching everyone connect.

Some of the most valuable learning happened away from the formal programme — over a meal, during a conversation, through a spontaneous experiment or simply by listening to one another.

No competition. No expectations. No right or wrong way. Just curiosity, creativity and the freedom to explore.

A huge thank you to our twelve wonderful travellers. Your enthusiasm, generosity, humour and willingness to embrace the unexpected made STARGATE everything we had hoped it might be.

Special thanks to Anastasia Eden at Kind Earth, whose extraordinary food nourished us throughout the weekend and became a creative experience in its own right.

To Jacquie Papé Shankster, whose tireless work behind the scenes helped make the whole adventure possible.

And to Dafydd of Serydda, for bringing a little extra magic to our journey beyond the Stargate.

For us, STARGATE was never intended to be simply another sound workshop. We wanted to create an environment where people could experiment, collaborate, challenge their own habits, discover new possibilities and, above all, enjoy being together.

We think something rather special happened.

And while STARGATE 2026 may have come to an end, the conversations, friendships and creative journeys continue.

We're already beginning to imagine what STARGATE 2027 might become — perhaps something longer, more spacious and with even greater opportunities for exploration, collaboration and shared experiences.

But for now, we're simply grateful.

To everyone who travelled through the Stargate with us; thank you. You made it unforgettable.

With warmth and appreciation,

Craig Shankster & Shankara Andy Bole
Silentium

STARGATE 2027............ The journey continues...

23/10/2026

In collaboration with The College of Sound Healing Annual Conference, The Original Singing Gongs will once again be exhibiting in the Montgomery Suite at the Abbey Hotel, Great Malvern, Worcestershire. We welcome both conference attendees and individual gong practitioners from afar who are interested in exploring our collection of handmade gongs.

Join us to explore our 18”/20”/24"/28"/32" & 40" Wind Gongs. We offer both hand-etched designs and plain finishes. Saturday, 13th November, from 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, 14th November, from 9 am to 2 pm. We are closed during lunch and dinner.

Please let us know if there is a specific gong you would like us to bring....

21/10/2026

BUYING AT A DISTANCE SHOULDN’T MEAN BUYING BLIND.

We love welcoming people to our Listening Studio in Machynlleth. There is nothing quite like sitting amongst the instruments, taking your time and discovering which one speaks to you.

But we also recognise that travelling across the country isn’t always practical; particularly when the cost of almost everything seems to be increasing.

So we’re making another way of choosing your instrument much easier.

We’ve now added a new REQUEST A VIDEO CALL option to the Silence In Sound website.

From the comfort of your own home, we can spend time together looking at, listening to and comparing Himalayan Singing Bowls or Original Singing Gongs from our collection.

You can ask questions. Hear differences. Explore possibilities.

And make your decision with a real person at the other end of the screen rather than simply clicking “Add to Basket.”

Because choosing a resonant instrument should still feel personal, even when there are a few hundred miles between us.

The studio is always here if you can visit.

And now, if you can’t, we can bring a little of the studio to you.

Silence In Sound offers bespoke practical and creative workshops to individuals and small groups; we specialise in the use of Himalayan Singing Bowls and Original Singing Gongs and other interesting sound instruments. Guidance is heartfelt and nurturing with specific attention on individual confiden...

19/10/2026

🚀 STARGATE 2026 — INCOMING TRANSMISSION! 🚀

TRAVELLERS... PREPARE FOR FINAL APPROACH.

The coordinates are locked.

The instruments are waiting.

The countdown has begun...

📡 TRANSMISSION 004 — THE FINAL APPROACH is heading towards your inbox!

Our final communication before we gather at Ty Capel contains some important travel coordinates, last-minute preparations and a few clues about the journey ahead.

KEEP WATCH ON YOUR INBOX!

And remember to check your Spam or Junk folder; transmissions from distant galaxies have been known to lose their way!

Just a few days now until twelve travellers, twelve imaginations and a universe of possibilities converge.

What awaits beyond the Gate?

Some things are better left undiscovered... until the moment arrives.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

✨ THE GATE IS OPENING. ✨

Craig & Andy

18/10/2026

YOU DON’T NEED A BIG GONG TO GO DEEP

There are two different kinds of depth.

A large gong can give you scale, lower tones, greater air movement, longer sustain and a powerful physical presence.

But that is not the same thing as depth of exploration.

A smaller gong can still teach you an enormous amount.

Touch.
Restraint.
Mallet choice.
Striking point.
Friction.
Texture.
Decay.
Stillness.

It can teach you the difference between simply producing a sound and allowing a sound to fully unfold.

And perhaps that is where the real depth begins.

A smaller gong can also be more intimate, more manageable and easier to live with. You may practise with it more often, move it more easily and get to know its character properly.

Of course, it will not behave exactly like a very large gong.

But creatively, musically and personally, the possibilities can still be vast.

So perhaps the better question is not:

How big is your gong?

But:

How deeply do you know it?

18/10/2026

A RECORDING IS A CLOSE-UP

When listening to a Singing Bowl recording online, it is worth remembering that the microphone may be positioned only a few inches from the bowl.

It is hearing the instrument very close up.

When you hear that same bowl acoustically, your ears are usually much further away. You are also hearing the sound interacting with the room around you.

This means the bowl may sound fuller, softer, brighter or simply different from the recording.

The bowl has not changed, but the listening position has.

This is why hearing a Singing Bowl in person is so important. A recording can introduce you to its character, but only the acoustic experience reveals the complete sound of the bowl in the room.

The recording is the close-up.

The acoustic experience is the whole picture.

17/10/2026

IF I PLAY GENTLY, WILL PEOPLE THINK I’M NOT VERY GOOD?

Perhaps that is the wrong question.

There can be a temptation to think constantly about how we are being received.

Is this impressive enough?
Powerful enough?
Dramatic enough?
Loud enough?

But we cannot control every person’s experience or reaction.

So perhaps the better approach is to play with confidence in what you are creating.

There is no single right or wrong.

No universal good or bad.

Play with restraint.

Play with thoughtfulness.

Play with integrity.

Explore what interests you. Follow the sounds that draw you in.

Allow space. Allow quiet. Allow something uniquely yours to emerge.

There are many ways to be heard.

Volume is only one of them.