THE MUSIC OF THE

FREE - THAILAND
MAPEH II
Elaine Mae G. Esposo
CHARACTERISTICS OF THAI
MUSIC:
1.There is no trace of Western
influence in Thai traditional
music because it is the only
Southeast Asian country that
has never been ruled by any
Western nation.
2.Thai music is a product of
Asian influence..
3.It has its own structure and
form.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
THAI MUSIC:
4. Thai music has a
heterophonic texture.
5. It is based on the seven-
tone scale system where
each tone is equidistant from
each other.
6. Traditional Thai music is
written in 2/4time signature.
Two General Styles in
Thai Music:
I. Rhythmically simple
with relatively neutral
melodic lines.
2. Lyrical with great
rhythmic diversity.
P.M. 3 5 6 2 1 5 1
mi so la re do so do

1. I. 3 3 5 5 6 6 2 2 1 1 5 5 1 1
mi mi so so la la re re do do so so do
do

2.I. 3 3 5 5 6 2 1 5 5 1
mi mi so so la re do so so do
VOCAL MUSIC OF
THAILAND
1.RITUAL SONGS
This form of
music comes in
two variations,
the suod, and
the thes.
SUOD is the
chanting of
religious verses
that is used to
worship spiritual
and supernatural
beings.
THES is a ritual song
that is performed
with improvisations
and is learned by
memory. It can be
used in poetry
reading, recitation,
and speech.
2. ENTERTAINMENT SONGS
This group of songs is
basically secular & is
used to tell stories about
customs & traditions.
The singer renders the
stories impressively
through spontaneity& the
use of wit.
a. Phleng klomdek are
nursery rhymes with an
irregular rhythm.
b. Phleng bork are songs
for male singers that tell
about stories and news.
The song is performed
through leader-answer
style.
c. Sebha is a solo song
that is popular in
central Thailand. It has
a fixed form of eight
words per line.
d. He Ruea is a boat
song sung following
the rhythm of the
oarsmen.
e. Sangkhara is originally
a beggars music that
has been adapted for the
puppet play called Hun
Krabork. Its songs and
music were composed
by a blind beggar named
Sankhard during the
period of Rama V.
e. Sangkhara is originally
a beggars music that
has been adapted for the
uppet play called Hun
Krabork. Its songs and
music were composed
by a blind beggar named
Sankhard during the
period of Rama V.
THAILANDS
MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS
A.IDIOPHONES
> Ranat thum
> Khawng wong
lek
> Khawng wong
yai
> ching chap
Ranat thum
is a box-shaped
metallophone that is
placed on the floor and
played while sitting. It has
a range of two-and-a half
octaves that is struck by a
padded mallet.
Khwang wong lek
is a set of gong
circles with low
pitched that are an
octave lower than
the khwang wong
yai.
Khwang wong
yai
is also a circle of
gongs. It is the
largest of all
gongs in
Thailand.
Ching chap
is a set of
persuccion
instruments
likened to a pair of
cymbals.
B. MEMBRANOPHONES
> Taphon
> Ramana
> Thon romana
Taphon
is a drum placed
on a stand. It is
played with both
hands using the
palms and fingers.
Ramana
is a shallow drum
that looks like a
tambourine
without the
metallic discs.
Thon romana
is a bowl-shaped
ceramic drum that
is used in the
Mahori ensemble.
C. CHORDOPHONES
> Jakhae
> Saw sam sai
The J akhae is shaped
like a crocodile. Its body
is big and hollow in order
to resonate the sound of
the instrument better. This
is Thailands most
important stringed
instrument with the most
beautiful sound.
Saw Sam Sai
resembles much the
Japanese shamisen,
but is triangular in
shape with a spiked
leg. The pitch of the
string depends on the
size of the coconut
shell.
D. AERROPHONES
> Pi
> Khaen
The pi is believed to be
truly a Thai instrument
used since the ancient
times. It is usually
played with percussion
instruments.
Khaen is the most
important folk
instrument in north
Thailand and in Laos. It
is described to produce
a drone that is often
described as mournful
and plaintive.