Last night I attended a performance by a small ensemble led by Alisa Weilerstein. They played in the Harris Theater in Millenium Park, the program including the Beethoven "Chost" trio, the Schoenberg-sanctioned piano trio arrangement of Verklaerte Nacht, a piece for solo marimba, and perhaps most audaciously, an arrangement (also composer-approved) of the Shostakovich 15th Symphony for piano trio and three percussionists.
Though I think both the Schoenberg and Shostakovich arrangements are questionable, I was most favorably impressed by the sound of a Sabian tamtam. Though not an especially large instrument--I think it was the 34-inch version--it sounded with deep bass and complex overtones when struck loudly, and beautifully mysterious and atmospheric on the soft strokes. I spoke to the player, Doug Perkins, after the performance; he said he himself liked the sound very much. (You can read about Mr. Perkins at
http://www.dougperkins.com/.)
Those of us who harbor a perhaps keen, not to say obsessive, interest in these instruments can sample many brands and sizes here:
https://memphisdrumshop.com/gongs
