Music

Of

Thailand

Music of Thailand

The music of Thailand reflects its geographic position at the intersection of China and India, 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), and the klong kaek (Indonesian origin). Though Thailand was never colonized by colonial powers, pop music and other forms of modern Asian, European and American music have become extremely influential. The two most popular styles of traditional Thai music are luk thung and mor lam; the latter in particular has close affinities with the Music of Laos.

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. These ensembles, while being deeply influenced by Khmer and even older practices and repertoires from India, are today uniquely Thai expressions.

Traditional Thai classical repertoire is anonymous, handed down through an oral tradition of performance in which the names of composers (if, indeed, pieces were historically created by single authors) are not known. However, 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.

While the composer Luang Pradit Phairau (1881–1954) used localized forms of cipher (number) notation, other composers such as Montri Tramote (1908–1995) used standard western staff notation.

Several members of the Thai royal family have been deeply involved in composition, including King Prajatipok (Rama VII, 1883–1941) and King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927–), whose compositions have been more often for jazz bands than classical Thai ensembles. While the three primary classical ensembles, the Piphat, Khruang Sai and Mahori differ in significant ways, they all share a basic instrumentation and theoretical approach.

A Piphat

A piphat (Thai: ปพาทย) is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand, which features wind and percussion instruments. It is considered the primary form of ensemble for the interpretation of the most sacred and "high-class" compositions of the Thai classical repertoire, including the Buddhist invocation entitled Satukan (Thai: สาธุการ) as well as the suites called phleng ruang. It is also used to accompany traditional Thai theatrical and dance forms including khon (Thai: โขน) (masked dance-drama), lakhon (classical dance), and shadow puppet theater. ( The most common form of piphat is called piphat mai khaeng (ป พาทยไมแข็ง). This ensemble uses an oboe called pi (after which the piphat ensemble is named), in combination with xylophones, gong circles, and other percussion instruments, with the xylophones and gong circles using hard mallets, creating a very bright, loud sound. Quieter varieties of piphat ensemble, called piphat mai nuam (ปพาทย ไมนวม), uses a vertical flute called khlui piang or in place of the pi, and soft mallets are used in place of hard mallets.

Types of piphat

1. Piphat khruang ha (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์เครืÉองห้า)

2. Piphat khruang khu (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์เครืÉองคู่)

]3. Piphat khruang yai (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์เครืÉองใหญ่)

4. Piphat nang hong (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์นางหงส์)

5. Piphat duek dam ban (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์ดึกดําบรรพ์)

6. Piphat mon (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์มอญ)

7. Piphat mon khruang ha (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์มอญเครืÉองห้า)

8. Piphat mon khruang khu (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์มอญเครืÉองคู่)

9. Piphat mon khruang yai (Thai: วงปีÉ พาทย์มอญเครืÉองใหญ่)

Khrueang 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 two-string bowed lute), the lower pitched solaw (bowed lute) and the three-string jhakhe (a plucked zither). In addition to these instruments are the klhui (vertical fipple flute) in several sizes and ranges, a goblet drum (than) and, occasionally, a small hammered Chinese dulcimer (khim). The khruang sai ensemble is primarily used for instrumental indoor performances and for accompanying the Thai hoon grabok (stick-puppet theater), a genre deeply influenced by Chinese puppetry styles. Types of wong khruang sai

1. Khruang sai diao (Thai: วงเครื่องสายเดี่ยว)

2. khruang sai khu (Thai: วงเครื่องสายคู)

3. khruang sai prasom (Thai: วงเครื่องสายประสม หรือ วง เครื่องสายผสม)

4. khruang sai pi chawa (Thai: วงเครื่องสายปชวา)

Mahori

The third major Thai classical ensemble is the Mahori, traditionally played by women in the courts of both Central Thailand and Cambodia. Historically the ensemble included smaller instruments more appropriate, it was thought, to the build of female performers. Today the ensemble employs regular sized instruments—a combination of instruments from both the Khruang Saiand Piphat ensembles but excluding the loud and rather shrill oboe. The ensemble, which is performed in three sizes—small, medium and large—includes the three-string so sam sai fiddle, a delicate-sounding, middle-range bowed lute with silk strings. Within the context of the Mahori ensemble, the so sam sai accompanies the vocalist, which plays a more prominent role in this ensemble than in any other classical Thai orchestra.

Traditional or folk

Luk thungrefers to the most popular form of a style of music found in Thailand. The term is short for pleng luk thung The form developed in the first half of the 20th century, although the term luk thung was first used in the 1960s. Ponsri Woranutand Suraphol Sombatcharoen were the genre's first big stars, incorporating influences from Latin America, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and, especially, American film soundtracksand country music (including yodelling). Many of the most popular luk thung stars have come from the central city of Suphanburi, including megastar Pumpuang Duangjan, who adapted it to 1980s string (Thai pop) music by making a dance-ready form called electronic luk thung.

Mor lam

Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลํา, IPA: [ˌmɔːlɑm]) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan. Mor lam means expert song, or expert singer, referring to the music or artist respectively. Other romanisations used include mo lam, maw lam, maw lum, moh lam and mhor lum. The characteristic feature of lam singing is the use of a flexible melody which is tailored to the tones of the words in the text. Traditionally, the tune was developed by the singer as an interpretation of gon poems and accompanied primarily by the khene, a free reed mouth organ, but the modern form is most often composed and uses electrified instruments.

Mor lam History

Morlam has its birth in the Lao heartlands of Laos and Isan, where it remains a popular art form. Although its precursors probably lie within the musical traditions of the historical Tai tribes that migrated south from China and northern Vietnam, much cross-pollination with indigenous music of the region as well as importation of Chinese, Mon-Khmer, Indian and Malay influences has also had a pronounced affect on the dances, instrumentation and melodies of morlam.

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, chokantrum, 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, Darkiebecame the genre's biggest star, and he crossed into mainstream markets in the later 1990s.

Luk thung

Luk thung, or Thai country music, developed in the mid-20th century to reflect daily trials and tribulations of rural Thais. Pongsri Woranutand 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. The late 90's saw a commercial resurgence of Luk Thung, and the modern electrified, pop-influenced version of the genre remains the country's most popular music form.

Pop and rock

By the 1930s, however, Western classical music, showtunes, jazzand tango were popular. Soon, jazz grew to dominate Thai popular music, and Khru Eua Sunthornsanansoon 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

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 best-sellers and incorporated sternly nationalisticelements 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.

String

String pop took over mainstream listeners in Thailand in the 90s, and bubblegum pop stars like Christina Aguilar, Bird Thongchai McIntyre and Asanee-Wasan became best-sellers. 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. The late 90's saw pop overshadowed by the remarkable commercial resurgence of Luk Thung, but modern Luk Thung has also adopted some elements from the pop acts.

Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal music in Thailand was very popular in early 90s'.many band in this era play Heavy Metal such like Hi-Rock, Stone Metal Fire, I-Scream, Uranium, Big Gun.

King Rama 9 and the music

His Majesty the King's accomplishments in music are well known, not only to his Thai subject, but also to lovers of music worldwide. He is one of Thailand's best jazz musicians. He has composed 43 musical works which rank among the most well known in the history of Thai contemporary music. He has shared his musical interests with varied groups of musicians and member of the general public. His achievements in music have been internationally recognized, and have been presented with the highest accolades both in Thailand and abroad.

His Majesty's favourite instruments are the saxophone, clarinet and trumpet. He also plays the guitar and the piano. He is able and willing to join in with any musical group of orchestra. In jazz, he enjoys playing both annotated musical arrangements and impromptu session: he is very good at also improvisation. In 1960, in New York, he played the saxophone and clarinet with world renowned musicians such as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton and Stan Getz. All agreed that His Majesty was a highly gifted exponent of jazz.

His favourite music is 'Dixieland' jazz with its fast, rousing rhythms and freedom for musical expression. An early jazz band which he had founded consisted of close relatives, senior members of the royal family. The 'Lai Khram' jazz band held many fun filled sessions which occasionally lasted until the light of dawn.