'Barry Mason first came onto my radar when I learned he had created an ovular-shaped titanium gong. I’ve long been fascinated by how different shapes propagate sound, and the oval has been a particular area of curiosity for me. As someone who owns a few titanium instruments—but is still relatively new to the metal—I’m always eager to discover fresh approaches and to experience the new instruments being created.

I finally met Barry at the Golden Gong Gathering of 2025. While he didn’t bring the oval gong, he had with him four larger titanium instruments in the 45–48 inch range. We were both happy to connect in person. He told me how challenging the oval gong had been to build, and that he would likely never attempt it again—a disappointment for me, though softened by the chance to explore the instruments he did bring.

Barry’s gongs are truly beautiful—not only in sound but visually as well. They reflect his distinctive style of building, particularly in the rims, which seemed to let the lower tones sing and resonate with remarkable freedom. Each gong carried a balanced blend of lows, mids, and highs, with carefully tuned tension across the face that opened up rich possibilities for tonal exploration. Every gong had its own distinct voice. I was fortunate not only to play these instruments but also to perform with one of them overnight in concert—and even to play alongside Barry himself. He is a generous and inspiring improviser.

Throughout the night, I kept returning to his gong, drawn to its wide range of tonalities and expressive character. It responded beautifully to multiple friction mallets played simultaneously, and it truly shined when I used muting and dampening techniques to uncover percussive subtleties across its surface. Playing Barry’s instruments was a deeply aesthetic experience. They are alive with possibilities, and I hope more people will have the chance to encounter them firsthand.'

MIKE TAMBURO

MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, ARTIST EDUCATOR

SOUNDSETERNAL.COM