Music of Southeast Asia: Thailand Presentation PDF

# Music of Southeast Asia: Thailand ## Music of Southeast Asia: Thailand - Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never ruled by a Western power. - Thailand is also known as "Siam". - Thailand's geography indicates that Thai Music is a mixture of Asian musical principles and elements are der...

# Music of Southeast Asia: Thailand ## Music of Southeast Asia: Thailand - Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never ruled by a Western power. - Thailand is also known as "Siam". - Thailand's geography indicates that Thai Music is a mixture of Asian musical principles and elements are derived from the Indian and Indonesian strings and gong-chimes. It uses a five or seven- tone scale system. - Music is only confined to use in the royal courts but is also used for dance, theater, and other ceremonies. ## Characteristics of Thai Music Based on the Following Musical Elements: | Element | Description | |---|---| | Rhythm | Uses duple meter | | Tempo | Steady, guided by a Ching (finger cymbals) | | Pitch | Music is very melodic and tonal | | Style (Vocal Music) | Melismatic | | Texture | Naturally heterophonic | ## Thai Traditional Ensembles and Instruments - **Piphat:** A traditional Thai ensemble consisting of percussion and wind instruments. It uses xylophone-like instruments and wind instruments. - **Ranat Ek:** Consists of high-pitched wooden or bamboo blades laid on a boat-shaped frame. - **Pi Nai:** A conical reed instrument with a wooden body and six finger holes. - **Khrueang Sai:** A traditional Thai ensemble made up of primarily stringed instruments and a few hand drums and cymbals. It typically comprised of Thailand's stringed instruments but occasionally incorporates a violin into it. - **Saw Sam Sai:** A traditional bowed string instrument of Thailand. Its body is made from a particular type of coconut covered on one end with animal skin. It 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 annually celebrated in Thailand. - The name could be translated as "to float ritual vessel or lamp".