Thai Music and Culture Overview

Thailand

• Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never ruled by a Western power. For this reason it's called Muang Thai, which means land of the free
• Thailand is also known as Siam.
• Thailand's musical principles and elements are derived from Chinese music
• Thai music is a mixture of Asian musical principles with influence from Indian and Indonesian music.
• Thai music typically uses a five or seven-tone scale system.
• Thai music is used for royal court, dance, theater, and other ceremonies.

Characteristics of Thai Music

• Uses duple meter (two beats per measure).
• Tempo is steady and guided by Ching (finger cymbals).
• Thai music "pitch" melodic and tonal, .
• Vocal Thai music is often melismatic, with many notes per syllable.
• Thai music texture is naturally heterophonic,

Thai Traditional Ensembles and Instruments

• Piphat: A traditional ensemble consisting of percussion and wind instruments.
  • Uses xylophone-like instruments and wind instruments such as the Ranat Ek and Pi Nai.
• Ranat Ek: A high-pitched wooden or bamboo xylophone laid on a boat-shaped frame.
• Pi Nai: A conical reed instrument with a wooden body and six finger holes.
• Khrueang Sai: A traditional ensemble made up primarily of stringed instruments and a few hand drums and cymbals.
  • Typically comprised of Thailand's stringed instruments but occasionally incorporates a violin.
• Saw Sam Sai: A traditional bowed string instrument of Thailand.
  • Body made from a particular type of coconut covered on one end with animal skin.
  • Has three silk strings.

Chakhe

• A fretted floor zither or lute with three strings.

Vocal Music: Loi Loi Krathong

• A Thai folksong.
• Loi Loi Krathong is a festival celebrated annually in Thailand.
• The name could be translated as "to float ritual vessel or lamp".