Thai Music

Chen Jing 49044370303 Yang Shu 49044370326 Liang Ruixin 49044370340

Music of Thailand
1.

The music of Thailand reflects its geographic position at the intersection of China, India, Indonesia and Cambodia, and reflects trade routes that have historically included Persia, Africa, Greece and Rome. Thai musical instruments are varied and reflect ancient influence from far afield including: The klong thap and khim (Persian origin) The jakhe (Indian origin) The klong jin (Chinese origin) The klong kaek (Indonesian origin)

2.

Though Thailand was never colonized by Western powers, pop music and other forms of European and American music have become extremely influential. The two most popular styles of traditional Thai music are Luk thung Mor lam The latter in particular has close affinities with the Music of Laos. Aside from the Thai, ethnic minorities such as the Lao, Lawa, Hmong, Akha, Khmer, Lisu, Karen and Lahu peoples have retained traditional musical forms.

1. 2.

System

1. Classical music

1.1 Piphat 1.2 Khruang Sai 1.3 Mahori 2.1 Luk thung 2.2 Mor lam 2.3 Kantrum 3.1 Phleng pheua chiwit 3.2 String

2. Traditional or folk

3. Pop and rock

4. Indie

Classical music

Thai classical music is synonymous with those stylized court ensembles and repertoires that emerged in its present form within the royal centers of Central Thailand some 800 years ago.

 1. 2. 3.

The three primary classical ensembles: the Piphat Khruang Sai Mahori They differ in significant ways, and all share a basic instrumentation and theoretical approach. Each employ the small ching hand cymbals and the krap wooden sticks to mark the primary beat reference. Several kinds of small drums (klong) are employed in these ensembles to outline the basic rhythmic structure (natab) that is punctuated at the end by the striking of a suspended gong (mong).

Since the beginning of the modern Bangkok period, composers' names have been known and, since around the turn of the century, many major composers have recorded their works in notation. Musicians The composer Luang Pradit Phairau (1881 1954) used localized forms of cipher (number) notation Other composers such as Montri Tramote (19081995) used standard western staff notation. King Prajatipok (Rama VII, 18831941) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927), whose compositions have been more often for jazz bands than classical Thai ensembles.

1.

2.

3.

1. Piphat

Piphat can be performed in either a loud outdoor style using hard mallets or in an indoor style using padded hammers. There are several types of piphat ensembles ranging in size and orchestration, each kind typically being associated with specific ceremonial purposes. Different versions of the piphat ensemble are employed to accompany specific forms of traditional Thai drama such as the large shadow puppet theater (nang yai) and the khon dance drama.

Piphat

2. Khruang Sai

The Khruang Sai orchestra combines some of the percussion and wind instruments of the piphat with an expanded string section including the so duang (a high-pitched twostring bowed lute), the lower pitched solaw (bowed lute) and the three-string jhakhe (a plucked zither).

Khruang Sai

3. Mahori

Mahori, traditionally played by women in the courts of both Central Thailand and Cambodia. Today the ensemble employs regular sized instrumentsa combination of instruments from both the Khruang Sai and Piphat ensembles but excluding the loud and rather shrill oboe. The ensemble, which is performed in three sizessmall, medium and largeincludes the three-string so sam sai fiddle, a delicate-sounding, middle-range bowed lute with silk strings.

Mahori

Traditional or folk

Luk thung Luk thung, or Thai country music, developed in the mid-20th century to reflect daily trials and tribulations of rural Thais. Ponsri Woranut and Suraphol Sombatcharoen were the genre's first big stars, incorporating influences from, Asia. Many of the most popular artists have come from the central city of Suphanburi, including megastar Pumpuang Duangjan, who pioneered electronic luk thung.

Mor lam
Mor lam is the dominant folk music of Thailand's north-eastern Isan region, which has a mainly Lao population. It has much in common with luk thung, such as its focus on the life of the rural poor. It is characterized by rapid-fire, rhythmic vocals and a funk feel to the percussion. The lead singer, also called a mor lam, is most often accompanied by the khaen. There are about fifteen regional variations of mor lam, plus modern versions such as mor lam sing. Some conservatives have criticized these as the commercialization of traditional cultures.

Kantrum
The people of Isan are also known for kantrum, which is much less famous than mor lam. Kantrum is played by Khmer living near the border with Cambodia. It is a swift and very traditional dance music. In its purest form, cho-kantrum, singers, percussion and tro (a type of fiddle) dominate the sound. A more modern form using electric instrumentation arose in the mid-1980s. Later in the decade, Darkie became the genre's biggest star, and he crossed into mainstream markets in the later 1990s.

Pop and rock

By the 1930s, however, Western classical music, showtunes, jazz and tango were popular. Soon, jazz grew to dominate Thai popular music, and Khru Eua Sunthornsanan soon set up the first Thai jazz band. The music he soon helped to invent along with influential band Suntharaporn was called pleng Thai sakorn, which incorporated Thai melodies with Western classical music. This music continued to evolve into luk grung, a romantic music that was popular with the upper-class. King Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz musician and composer.

Rock

1. Phleng pheua chiwit

By the 1960s, Western rock was popular and Thai artists began imitating bands like Cliff Richard & the Shadows; this music was called wong shadow, and it soon evolved into a form of Thai pop called string. Among the groups that emerged from this period was The Impossibles. The '70s also saw Rewat Buddhinan beginning to use the Thai language in rock music as well as the rise of protest songs called phleng pheua chiwit (songs for life). The earliest phleng pheua chiwit band was called Caravan, and they were at the forefront of a movement for democracy. In 1976, police and right wing activists attacked students at Thammasat University; Caravan, along with other bands and activists, fled for the rural hills. There, Caravan continued playing music for local farmers, and wrote songs that would appear on their later albums. In the 1980s, phleng pheua chiwit re-entered the mainstream with a grant of amnesty to dissidents. Bands like Carabao became bestsellers and incorporated sternly nationalistic elements in their lyrics. By the 1990s, phleng pheua chiwit had largely fallen from the top of the Thai charts, though artists like Pongsit Kamphee continued to command a large audience.

2. String

String pop took over mainstream listeners in Thailand in the 90s, and bubblegum pop stars like Tata Young, Bird Thongchai McIntyre and Asanee-Wasan became bestsellers. Simultaneously, Britpop influenced alternative rock artists like Modern Dog, Loso, Crub and Proud became popular in late 1990s. In 2006, famous Thai rock bands include Clash, Big Ass, Bodyslam and Silly Fools.

Indie

A group of independent artists and records which produces music for non-commercial purpose also found in Thailand: Bakery Music(now under Sony Music); Smallroom; FAT radio; City-Blue; Coolvoice; Dudesweet; Idea-radio and Panda Records.

Traditional Thai musical instruments

In the traditional Thai system of organology, they are classified into four categories, by the action used in playing: Blowing (Thai: ), (wind instruments) Plucking (Thai: ), (plucked string instruments) Bowing (Thai: ), (bowed string instruments) Striking (Thai: ), (percussion instruments and hammered dulcimer)

System

1. Wind

3. Percussion

1.1 Flutes 1.2 Free-reed 1.3 Oboes 1.4 Horns

2. String

3.1 Drums 3.2 Gong chimes 3.3 Keyboard 3.4 Gongs 3.5 Clappers 3.6 Cymbals 3.7 Shaken bamboo 3.8 Bronze drums

2.1 Bowed 2.2 Plucked 2.3 Struck

4. Central 5. Northeast 6. North 7. South

Wind
Flutes

Khlui () - vertical duct flute made of bamboo, hardwood, or plastic

Khlui lib ( or ; treble); not commonly used Khlui phiang aw (; medium) Khlui u (; bass); not commonly used

Wot () - circular panpipe used in the Isan region of northeast Thailand

Flutes

Khlui u
Khlui phiang aw

Khlui

Khlui lib

Wot

Free-reed

Khaen () - mouth organ used in the Isan (northeastern) region Pi joom (; called pi saw in northern Thailand) free reed pipe used in the Lanna (northern) region Gourd mouth organ - used by the Akha (called lachi), Lisu (called fulu), and Lahu (called naw) peoples of the upland regions of northern Thailand Jew's harp (called jong nong () in central Thailand and huen () in northeast Thailand) played primarily among ethnic minorities of northern Thailand, as well as by the people of the Isan region of northeast Thailand

Khaen

Oboes

Pi () - quadruple- or double-reed oboe

Pi chanai () - possibly derived from the Indian shehnai Pi chawa () - used to accompany Muay Thai Pi klang () Pi mon () - large double-reed oboe with detachable metal bell; used for funeral music Pi nai () - standard leading instrument used in the piphat ensemble Pi nok ()

Pi chawa Pi chanai

Pi nok
Pi klang

Pi mon

Pi nai

Horns

Trae () - metal horn Sang () - conch shell horn; also called trae sang ()

String
Bowed
1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

Saw duang () - higher two-string fiddle with hardwood body; used in classical music Saw sam sai () - three-string spike fiddle with coconut shell body; used in classical music Saw u () - lower two-string fiddle with a coconut shell body; used in classical music Saw peep ( or ) or saw krapawng ()- two-string fiddles with body made from a metal can; used in the Isan region of northeast Thailand; saw krapawng is smaller Saw bong () - used in the Isan region of northeast Thailand Salaw () - three-string spike fiddle used in the Lanna region

Bowed

2 3

Plucked

Grajabpi () - ancient fretted lute Jakhe () - crocodile-shaped fretted floor zither with three strings Phin () - three-stringed lute used in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand Phin pia () - chest-resonated stick zither played by the Lanna of northern Thailand Seung () - plucked lute from the Lanna region of northern Thailand Phin hai () or hai song () - a set of earthenware jars with rubber bands stretched over the open mouths

Jakhe

Phin pia Grajabpi

Seung Phin hai

Struck

Khim () - hammered dulcimer

Percussion
Drums

Taphon () or klawng taphon () - sacred barrel drum; played with the hands and used in the piphat ensemble Glong thad () - large drum played with sticks; usually played in a pair and used in the piphat ensemble Rammana () - frame drum; played with the hand Thon () - goblet drum; played with the hand Glong thap - goblet drum used primarily in southern Thai folk music Glong khaek () - barrel drum; played with the hands and generally played in pairs Glong songna - barrel drum; played with the hands Glong yao () - long drum; played with the hands Perng mang kok - set of tuned drums used in the piphat Mon Glong seng, Glong jing, or Glong tae - large drum played with sticks; generally played in pairs and used in competition in the Isan region of northeast Thailand, particularly by the Phu Thai people

Taphon

Glong thad
Glong khaek

Thon

Rammana

Glong yao

Gong chimes

Khong wong lek () - higher gong circle; comprises many small tuned bossed gongs mounted in a rattan frame Khong wong yai ()- lower gong circle; comprises many small tuned bossed gongs mounted in a rattan frame Khong mon () - set of many small tuned bossed gongs arranged in vertical curved frame; usually primarily in funeral music Khong rang () - set of eight tuned gongs suspended horizontally in a straight frame; similar to the southern Philippine kulintang; rare

Khong wong lek Khong wong yai

Khong mon

Khong rang

Keyboard

Ranad () - trough-resonated keyboard percussion instrument; generally played with two mallets and used in Thai classical and theater music

Ranad ek () - higher xylophone, with bars usually made of hardwood Ranad thum () - lower xylophone, with bamboo or hardwood bars Ranad ek lek () - higher metallophone Ranad thum lek () - lower metallophone Ranad kaeo () - crystallophone; very rare

Bong lang () - pentatonic log xylophone used in the Isan region

ranart-ek Ranad

Gongs

Khong chai (), also called khong hui () or khong mui ( ) - huge hanging bossed gong used for indicating time Khong mong () or mong () - medium-sized hanging bossed gong used in Thai ensembles Khong meng () or khong kratae () - small bossed gong used as a signaling device and in traditional parades with klawng yao Khong rao () - three bossed gongs (small, medium, and large) suspended vertically in a wooden frame; rare Khong khu () - pair of small bossed gongs suspended horizontally in a wooden box; used in theater music and music of southern Thailand Wong khong chai () - set of seven large bossed gongs suspended vertically in a circular frame; rare

Gongs

Khong rao

Khong khu

Khong meng

Wong khong chai

Clappers

Krab () - clapper

Krab phuong () - bundle of hardwood and brass slats, tied together at one end Krab sepha () - pair of bamboo or hardwood sticks

Cymbals

Ching () - pair of small, thick cymbals joined by a cord; used to mark time Chab () - pair of flat cymbals joined by a cord

Chab lek () - smaller Chab yai () - larger

Ching Chab

Shaken bamboo

Angkalung () - set of tuned bamboo tubes mounted in a frame and shaken; generally played by a group. comes from Indonesia.

Bronze drums

Mahorathk () - bronze drum; dates back to the Dong Son culture of antiquity and today very rare

Central
Saw sam sai

The saw sam sai (Thai: ; also spelled saw samsai, and occasionally called simply sam sai; literally "three stringed fiddle") is a traditional bowed string instrument of Thailand. Its body is made from a special type of coconut covered on one end with animal skin, and it has three silk strings. Typically, the player glues a jewel onto the skin before playing, to reduce the skin's resonance.photo The saw sam sai is in the saw family of Thai fiddles, which also includes the saw u and saw duang. It is the hardest to play among the 4 types of Thai Saw: Saw U, Saw Duang, and Sa Lor. This is because the bow is not attached, and one must "break" their wrist back and forth to change stringsnot tilting the bow. Because of this, it is frequently used as a prop in pictures to show knowledge or a high social status. It is related to a very similar Cambodian instrument called tro Khmer.

Central

Saw duang The saw duang (Thai: ) is a bowed string instrument used in Thai music. It has a hardwood soundbox covered on the playing end with python skin. It is held vertically and has two silk strings that are played with a bow.

Saw u

The saw u (Thai: ; also spelled saw ou) is a Thai bowed string instrument.It has a lower pitch than the saw duang. Its soundbox is made from a coconut shell that is covered on the front end by cowskin. It is held vertically and has two silk strings that are played with a bow whose hair passes between the strings. The saw u is similar to the Cambodian tro u and the Chinese yehu, although the latter instrument has a wooden rather than skin face.

Jakhe

The jakhe (Thai: , deriving from the word jorakhe, , meaning "crocodile") is a plucked zither used in Thai music. It is made of wood in a stylized crocodile shape and is approximately 20 cm high and 140 cm long. Its highest two strings are made of silk yarn or nylon and lowest is made of brass. It has raised frets made of bamboo, which are affixed to the fretboard with wax or glue. The player uses his or her left hand on the fretboard while plucking the string by his right hand with a tapered plectrum made from ivory or water buffalo horn, which is tied to the player's index finger. The instrument has a buzzing sound due to the fact that the strings are raised just off the flat bridge by a sliver of bamboo or other thin material such as plastic. The jakhe is similar to the Cambodian krapeu (takhe), the Burmese mi gyaung. and the Mon kyam.

Khlui

The khlui () is a vertical duct flute from Thailand. It is generally made of bamboo, though instruments are also made from hardwood or plastic. The khlui is very similar to the Cambodian khloy, though there are differences in tuning between the two instruments. It comes in three sizes: khlui lib (; small), khlui phiang aw (; medium), and khlui u ( ; large). The khlui once had a buzzing membrane similar to the Chinese di mo, but this is not used today.

Ranat ek

The ranad ek (Thai: )alto xylophone is a Thai xylophone. It has 21 or 22 wooden bars suspended by cords over a boat-shaped trough resonator, and is played with two mallets. It is used as a leading instrument in the piphat ensemble. The Ranat ek is played by two types of mallets. The hard mallets create the sharp bright sound when they keys are hit.The hard mallets are used for more faster playing. The soft mallets create a mellow and more softer tone which is used for slower songs. Ranat ek bars are typically made from rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri; Thai: ; mai ching chan), although in rare instances instruments with bamboo bars can be found. Some ranat ek players are able to play two instruments at the same time, placed at right angles to each other. The ranat ek is very similar to a Cambodian xylophone called roneat ek.

Ranat thum

The ranad thum (Thai: ) is a low pitched xylophone used in the music of Thailand. It has 18 wooden keys, which are stretched over a boat-shaped trough resonator. Its shape looks like a ranad ek, but it is lower and wider. It is usually played in accompaniment of a ranad ek. Ranat thum bars are typically made from bamboo, although instruments with rosewood (Dalbergia oliveri; Thai: ; mai ching chan) bars can also be found. It is similar to a Cambodian xylophone called roneat thung.

Khong wong yai

The khong wong yai (Thai: ) is a gong circle used in the music of Thailand. It has 16 tuned bossed gongs in a rattan frame and is played with two beaters. It is used in the piphat ensemble to provide the skeletal melody the other instruments of the ensemble elaborate.

Khong wong lek

The khong wong lek (Thai: ) is a gong circle used in Thai classical music. It has 18 tuned bossed gongs, and is smaller and higher in pitch than the khong wong yai. Both instruments are played in the same manner, the khong wong lek plays a faster and more ornate variation on the principal melody, with less use of two-note chords.

Thon rammana

The thon rammana (Thai: ) are hand drums played as a pair in Central Thai classical music and Cambodian classical music. It consists of two drums: the thon (a goblet drum with a ceramic or wooden body) and the rammana, a small frame drum. They are used usually in the khruang sai ensemble. The thon gives a low pitch and the rammana gives a high pitch. Earlier in the 20th century, the thon and rammana were sometimes played separately.

Glong khaek

Glong khaek (Thai: ) is a type of double-headed barrel drum used in Thai music. The instrument's name comes from glong (meaning "drum") and khaek (meaning "Indian" or "Malay"). There are two types of glong khaek: glong khaek tua phu (which is considered to be male) (Thai: ) and glong khaek tua mia (female) (Thai: ). They are always played in a pair, usually by two players, although if two players are not available a single player may play both drums. The two drums fit their beats together in hocket, or interlocking form. Both drumheads are played with the hands, like the glong songna. The glong khaek tua phu has a higher pitch and the glong khaek tua mia has a lower pitch.

Glong songna

Glong songna (Thai: ) is a Thai barrel drum. Songna means "two faces," and the drum has two heads that are played with the hands. It is used primarily in the piphat ensemble.

Northeast

Huen - This drum is shaped like a drum that is used in the puangmangkog set. It is always played with a piphat ensemble. Khaen - mouth organ Wot - a circular panpipe made of 6-9 various lengths of small bamboo pipes (mai-ruak or mai-hia, mai-ku-khan) Phin - a fretted, plucked lute Pong lang - log xylophone played by two players with hard stick. Its shape is like a xylophone consisting of 15 wooden bars stringed together Jakhe (Kabue) - one of the important instruments in the mahori khamen ensemble. It has three strings Grajabpi - The krachappi is a plucked stringed instrument. Its turtle shape sound box is made of jackfruit wood Saw kantrum - a bowed string instrument with a wooden soundbox, the head of which is covered with snakeskin. Glong kantrum - a single-headed drum Pi salai - a double-reed oboe accompanied with kantrum ensemble Krab khoo - Krab khoo: A pair of hard wooden bars two pairs made a set, played with both hands as percussion in "Kantrum ensemble".

North

Salaw - a bowed fiddle with three strings and a free bow. The resonator is made of coconut shell cut off on one side. Sueng - is a plucked string instrument, made of teak or hardwood. A round sound hole is cut on the top soundboard. Khlui - The same as the Central Thai khlui. Pi joom (called pi saw in northern Thailand) - a free reed pipe made of bamboo, with a single metal reed Pi nae - a double reed oboe that resembles the saranai or chani but larger in size; it is made of wood and usually accompanies the large gong. Phin pia - or sometimes simply called "pia" or "phia". The body is made from a coconut shell. Glong teng thing - Klong Teng-thing is a two faced tabular drum and used as one of percussive instrument. Ta lod pod - or Ma-lod-pod is a two-faced tubular drum of 100 centimeters long. Glong ting nong - The biggest and longest drum with onc face made of hide about 3-4 metres long. Glong sa bad chai - The most famous drum in northern, hanging on the double wooden bars carried by men

South

Thap - The goblet-shaped drum used for providing the changes of rhythm and also for supporting rhythm of the Nora (Southern dance drama). Glong nora - Klong nora or Klong nang: a barrel-shaped drum used to accompany the Nora dance or the Nang talung (Shadow puppet) performance Mong ching - Mong and Ching: two important percussion instruments used fo accompanying the Nora dance (dance drama) and the Nang talung (shadow puppet) performance. Khong khu - pair of small bossed gongs suspended horizontally in a wooden box; used in theater music and music of southern Thailand Pi - a quadruple-reed oboe type with six finger holes producing at least three octaves of pitches range. Trae rapoung - Trae phuang or Krab phung: a percussion used to provide rhythmic punctuation of the Nora ensemble

Thanks for Your Attention