The Origins of Asian Folk Music Instruments from
Indochina
The following article was written by world musician,
composer, and American musicologist Greg Turner, who currently resides in
south Korea where he teaches while researching and writing about various native
world music forms.
Greg
Turner
This article represents the first of an on-going
series that he will share about world music and how it has a profound influence
on entire cultures. It's a widely recognized phenomenon that certain combinations
of sounds, tones, textures, and rhythms have a physiological as well as a
psychological and meditative effect on our lives when exposed over any span
of time. This article is intended to identify and establish a brief time-line
of ethnic classical and folk music instruments that were created, invented,
and adopted by the people of Siam, known today as Thailand. The E-Thai CD
web site offers Thai classical and folk music that you can buy On Line to
enrich your experience and enjoy the heritage and most relaxing forms of Thai
folk music from the Kingdom of Siam.
Thai history
Over time, the people who were to later become "Thai," migrated
from China or perhaps further east or north into what is now northern and
central Thailand somewhere very roughly estimated between 2255 B.C. and 1254
A.D. Archeologists aren't certain where exactly they migrated from but some
believe that they are from the area between the Hwang-ho and Yangtze rivers.
Todays' Chinese music is derived from this region. In the 6th century, Khmers
settled in what is now Northern Thailand. The Khmers eventually held rulership
over north and central Siam, forcing the people further south to endure the
invaders rulership. In the 13th century the Thai people of Siam rose up and
overthrew the Khmer.
Thai instruments
The Thais had instruments of their own and some were from China such as the
khim dulcimer, malaw cymbal and klawng jin drum. The music of India had penetrated
into the Mon (southern Burma) and Khmer (Cambodia) cultures previously. Later,
the Thais also came in contact with Indian music. They successfully copied
many of the Indian instruments. The Thai's also created their own instruments
from this interaction, namely the phin, sang, pichanai, krachappi, chakhe
and thon. These are mentioned in one of the oldest books to come out of Thailand
called the Tribhunikuthai and also on a stone inscription called the sila-ja
rerk created during the reign of king Ramkhamhaeng who was considered the
father of the nation during the Sukhothai period 1283 A.D. (Sukhothai translates
as Dawn of Happiness since they overthrew the Khmer rulers).
At this time they adopted some instruments such as the glawng khaek from java,
the klawng malayu from Malaysia, the perng mang from the Mon people and the
glawng yao from Burma.
External influences
Actually, India and Persia were already having an influence on music in China
by 126 B.C. China had a book on Indian music within 5 years prior to 642.
Indian music also was having an impact in Java at least by the thirteenth
century, so any instruments or music borrowed from there at that time may
also have been affected by India. Not much is known about Malaysian history
prior to the 15th century since little was recorded except that Hinduism was
having a strong presence there obviously coming from India. China records
contact with Malaysia at this time and up until 1824 it was predominantly
under Thai control.
Tuning
The Thai tuning system is originally derived from the Javanese which in turn
was derived from Chinese music theory. The Thai system is based on seven pitches
an equal distance apart from each other. This results in a scale which not
only does not have a perfect fifth but also has no notes which will be the
same as any in the western scales. In Thai music, the fourth and seventh pitches
are usually avoided, a practice similar to the avoidance of the 3rd and 7th
in China. They function as ornaments or passing tones.
Rhythmic Structure
Thai music is in duple meter and progresses from slow, to medium to fast,
similar to Indian and Korean music. Accents fall on the last beat in a group
of four, the same as Korean and gamelan music of Java and Bali. The accents
are played by open and closed cymbal patterns. These can be further subdivided.
This relates to the rhythmic structure of gamelan music but which is played
by gongs instead.
Melodic Structure
Thai music has no chords per se. The core melody is played simultaneously
with its variations. They only play in unison or octaves at important points
in the form then go back to playing different variations.
Instrument
Categories Thai instruments can be categorized by region; north, central, south, northern
Issan and southern Issan
Northern Instruments
The Seung is a plucked lute. It has a round body, metal strings and is played
with a pick made of horn.
The Tsalor is a spike fiddle. Its body is a coconut shell
with a thin soundboard.
The northern Pi is a six-holed, bamboo oboe with a metal reed.
It has three sizes.
The Klong Pong is a double sided drum.
The Klong Tueng or Klong Awe is a long drum, about 3 1/2 meters,
with a single head played at the temple and in ensembles. It is played with
a wooden stick.
Central Instruments
The Saw Samsai is also a spike fiddle made from a coconut shell with an animal
skin soundboard. It is only played in the Mahori ensemble. It has been in
use since the Sukhothai period (c. 1350). King Rama II was fond of it.
The Saw U has two strings, a coconut body and an animal skin
soundboard. Similar to the Chinese Hu-hu but without frets.
The Saw Duang is another fiddle but it has a small tubular
hardwood body and a snake skin soundboard. It can use 2 silk, gut or metal
strings. It is the leader of the string ensemble.
The Jakae is a plucked instrument. Its first two strings are
made of silk and the last is made of brass. It is played while the instrument
is layed horizonatally on the ground like the Japanese Koto but has a banjo
like body and high frets like the Korean Komungo. The right hand plucks with
an ivory pick.
The Khlui is a bamboo recorder with seven holes covering one
and a half octaves. It comes in several sizes and is used in the Mahori and
string ensembles.
The central Pi is one of the oldest Thai instruments. It is
an oboe usually made of hardwood with six holes. It is an instrument capable
of a wide range of _expression.
The Ranad Ek is a xylophone whose 21-22 bars are strung together
and "hang" down making a curve which gives the instrument the appearance
of a barge. The bars are either made of bamboo or hardwood. It is the leader
of the ensemble. It is higher in pitch than the Ranad Thume.
The Ranad Thume is a xylophone with 18 bars. It accompanies
the Ranad Ek.
The Gong Wong Yai plays the main melody. It contains 16 gongs
similar to those used in gamelan ensembles except arranged in a circle. It
is played with mallets.
The Thon is a drum whose body is made of wood or clay it is
originally from Arabia though the Thais acquired it by way of China.
The Rammana is a thin/short frame drum played together with
the Thon also originally from Arabia.
The Glong Khaek is a drum that plays in the Mahori, Piphat
and Krung Sai ensembles. It is played with two hands. It is originally from
Java.
The Glong Song Na is a drum always associated with the Phiphat
ensemble.
Southern Instruments
The Thap is a drum similar in shape to the Persian Dumbek. It signals changes
in rhythm and is used in a supporting role for the souther Nora dance. There
is usually a low and a hi drum played together.
The Klong Nora is a barrel shaped drum used for the Nora dance.
It is played with hardwood beaters.
The Mong has two gongs mounted in a wooden frame. It provides
the fundamental note/drone for narrative singing.
The Ching is a small, round hand cymbal used with narrative
singing.
The Trae Puang is a percussion instrument used in the nora
ensemble made of 10 pieces of hardwood arranged perpendicular to the floor.
By plunging a handle, the bars are made to resonate in rapid succession.
The Kim is a hammered dulcimer with three strings per course
similar to the Chinese Yang Chin. Both are originally from Arabia.
Northern Issan
The Khaen is one of the oldest woodwind instruments in the world. Its body
is made from cane. Its reed developed directly from discoveries about metal
made in the bronze age and functions like a harmonica. It comes in different
sizes, has finger holes and can play simultaneous pitches.
The Wode is a pan flute that comes in a linear and circular
form.
The Pong Lang is a xylophone played with hard sticks consisting
of 15 wooden bars strung together. The lower pitched end is elevated and mounted
on a post so that the xylophone bars hang on a diagonal. It is played by two
people. One person plays the melody, the other plays the drone. It is also
used in the Phleng Phu Thai San Phao ensemble.
Southern Issan
The Jakae is a plucked zither and plays in the Mahori Khamen ensemble. It
probably descended from the Indian Vina. It is played while it rests flat
on the ground like the Japanese Koto but has frets like the Korean Komungo.
The left hand frets while the right hand plucks.
The Krachappi is a Thailandized word taken from Japan which
was originally taken from Indian Pali/Sanskrit which means turtle. It is a
plucked lute. The body is a large circle like a big banjo. It is made of wood
and has frets.
The Saw-Kantrum is a fiddle
with a body made of wood and a snakeskin soundboard. It has two metal strings.
A loop is attached between the bridge and the nut to take up the slack on
the string. It comes in three sizes.
™
Honuapo
Bay, Hawaii
Greg
Turner