Thailand retains cultural connections with the two great centers of Asian civilizations, India and China. Though Thailand was never colonized by Western powers, pop music and other forms of 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. The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Asia is the largest and most populous region or continent depending on the definition. ... The word civilization (or civilisation) has a variety of meanings related to human society. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... For Popular music (music that is popular, rather than of a specific genre or style), see Popular music. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to some dispute as to Europes actual borders. ... Luk thung (Thai ลูกทุ่ง), literally child of the fields, is the most popular form of Thai country music. ... A khene player in Isan Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลำ) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan (Northeastern Thailand). ... Laos is dominated by the Lao, and includes minorities of Hmong and Mien, among others. ...

Aside from the Thai, minorities of Laotians, Lawa, Hmong, Akha, Mien, Lisu, Karen and Lahu peoples have retained traditional musical forms. This article is about the Lao ethnic group. ... The Hmong, also known as Miao (considered derogatory by some: see below) (Chinese: è‹—; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Vietnamese: Mèo or HMông; Thai: แม้ว (Maew) or ม้ง (Mong); Burmese: mun lu-myo), are an Asian ethnic group speaking the Hmong language, whose homeland is in the mountainous regions of southern China (especially... The Akha are an ethnic group which originated in China and Tibet. ... The Yao nationality (瑶族, pinyin: Yáo zú) are an ethnic group. ... The Lisu people are an ethnic group who inhabit Myanmar (Burma) China, Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. ... Total population: 7,400,000 Significant populations in: Myanmar: 7,000,000 Thailand:  400,000 Language: Karen Religion: Buddhism, Christianity, Animism Related ethnic groups: Padaung The Karen (Burmese: or Kayin), also known in Thailand as the Kariang (Thai: กะเหรี่ยง) or Yang , are an ethnic group in Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. ... The Lahu people (Chinese: 拉祜族 Lāhùzú; own names: Ladhulsi or Kawzhawd) are an ethnic group. ...

History

Thai music was part of an oral culture and developed no traditional system of notation. "As an integrated, unique system the traditional music of Thailand is probably not more than six hundred years old." (Morton 1978, p.1) The classical or Bangkok period beginning 1782 may be considered "a culmination of musical evolution that probably started, as nearly as can be ascertained from the references, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries with the rise of Ayuthaya as the capital," (ibid) in 1350. Music flourished for the next few centuries, in spite of occasional oppression from monarchs like Rama I and the burning of Ayuthaya, including its art collections and libraries, in 1767 the result of which is a loss of most knowledge necessary to reconstruct the history of Thai music before the Bangkok period. From 1768 to 1932 the area of modern Thailand was dominated by Siam, an absolute monarchy with capitals briefly at Thonburi and later at Rattanakosin, both in modern-day Bangkok. ... The kingdom of Ayutthaya was a Thai kingdom that existed from the 1350 to 1767. ... His Majesty King Rama I of Siam (portrait in the National History Museum, Bangkok) Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or Rama I the Great, was king of Thailand from 1782 to 1809. ...

Genres

Classical music

The earliest Thai ensembles were called piphat, and they included woodwind and percussion instruments, originally in order to accompany traditional theater and religious rituals. Another ensemble type, khruang sai, consists primarily of string instruments, while the mahori mixes strings with melodic percussion instruments and flute. A Piphat is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand. ... A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument in which sound is produced by blowing through a mouthpiece against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch is varied by opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... Khruang sai is a musical ensemble in Thai classical music which consists primarily of string instruments. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...

Fundamentals

"Thai music is nonharmonic, melodic, or linear, and as is the case with all musics of this genre, its fundamental organization is horizontal...Thai music in its horizontal complex is made up of a main melody played simultaneously with variants of it which progress in relatively slower and faster rhythmic units." (ibid, p.21) This is known as heterophony or polyphonic stratification: instrumentalists improvise idiomatically around the central melody. Rhythmically and metrically Thai music is steady in tempo, regular in pulse, divisive, in simple duple meter, without swing, with little syncopation (p.3, 39), and with the emphasis on the final beat of a measure or group of pulses and phrase (p.41), as opposed to the first as in European-influenced music. The Thai scale includes seven equal notes, instead of a mixture of tones and semitones. One of various musical textures, heterophony is a kind of complex monophony - there is only one melody, but multiple voices each of which play the melody differently, either in a different rhythm or tempo, with different embellishments and figures, or idiomatically different. ... An idiom is an expression (ie. ... // Rhythm (Greek ρυθμός = tempo) is the variation of the duration of sounds or other events over time. ... Metre or meter is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... In music a divisive rhythm is a rhythm in which a larger period of time is divided into smaller rhythmic units, this can be contrasted with additive rhythms, which are larger periods of time constructed from sequences of smaller rhythmic units added to the end of the previous unit. ... Metre is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... In music, a swung note or shuffle note is the rhythmic device in which the duration of the initial note in a pair is augmented and that of the second is diminished. ... In music, syncopation is the stressing of a normally unstressed beat in a bar or the failure to sound a tone on an accented beat. ... In musical notation, a bar or measure is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. ... In medicine, a persons pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. ... In music a phrase is a section of music that is relatively self contained and coherent over a medium time scale. ...

Classical music

The earliest Thai ensembles were called piphat, and they included woodwind and percussion instruments, originally in order to accompany traditional theater and religious rituals. Another ensemble type, khruang sai, consists primarily of string instruments, while the mahori mixes strings with melodic percussion instruments and flute. A Piphat is a kind of ensemble in the classical music of Thailand. ... A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument in which sound is produced by blowing through a mouthpiece against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch is varied by opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument. ... Percussion instruments are music instruments played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped, hence the percussive name. ... Khruang sai is a musical ensemble in Thai classical music which consists primarily of string instruments. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...

Fundamentals

"Thai music is nonharmonic, melodic, or linear, and as is the case with all musics of this genre, its fundamental organization is horizontal...Thai music in its horizontal complex is made up of a main melody played simultaneously with variants of it which progress in relatively slower and faster rhythmic units." (ibid, p.21) This is known as heterophony or polyphonic stratification: instrumentalists improvise idiomatically around the central melody. Rhythmically and metrically Thai music is steady in tempo, regular in pulse, divisive, in simple duple meter, without swing, with little syncopation (p.3, 39), and with the emphasis on the final beat of a measure or group of pulses and phrase (p.41), as opposed to the first as in European-influenced music. The Thai scale includes seven equal notes, instead of a mixture of tones and semitones. One of various musical textures, heterophony is a kind of complex monophony - there is only one melody, but multiple voices each of which play the melody differently, either in a different rhythm or tempo, with different embellishments and figures, or idiomatically different. ... An idiom is an expression (ie. ... // Rhythm (Greek ρυθμός = tempo) is the variation of the duration of sounds or other events over time. ... Metre or meter is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... In music a divisive rhythm is a rhythm in which a larger period of time is divided into smaller rhythmic units, this can be contrasted with additive rhythms, which are larger periods of time constructed from sequences of smaller rhythmic units added to the end of the previous unit. ... Metre is the measurement of a musical line into measures of stressed and unstressed beats, indicated in Western notation by a symbol called a time signature. ... In music, a swung note or shuffle note is the rhythmic device in which the duration of the initial note in a pair is augmented and that of the second is diminished. ... In music, syncopation is the stressing of a normally unstressed beat in a bar or the failure to sound a tone on an accented beat. ... In musical notation, a bar or measure is a segment of time defined as a given number of beats of a given duration. ... In medicine, a persons pulse is the throbbing of their arteries as an effect of the heart beat. ... In music a phrase is a section of music that is relatively self contained and coherent over a medium time scale. ...

Traditional or folk

Luk thung

Main article: Luk thung

Luk thung, or Thai country music, developed in the mid-20th century to reflect daily trials and tribulations of rural Thais. Ponsri Woranut and Suraphon Sombatjalern were the genre's first big stars, incorporating influences from Latin America, Asia and, especially, American film soundtracks and country music. Many of the most popular artists have come from the central city of Suphanburi, including megastar Pumpuang Duangjan, who pioneered electronic luk thung. The first all luk thung radio station was launched in 1997. Luk thung (Thai ลูกทุ่ง), literally child of the fields, is the most popular form of Thai country music. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Asia is the largest and most populous region or continent depending on the definition. ... Soundtrack refers to the recorded sound accompanying a visual medium such as a motion picture, television show, or video game. ... In popular music, Country music, also called country and western music or country-western, is an amalgam of popular musical forms developed in the Southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, Celtic Music, Blues, Gospel music, and Old-time music that began to develop rapidly [1] in the... Suphan Buri (Thai สุพรรณบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. ... Pompuang Duangjan (Thai พุ่มพวง ดวงจันทร์) was one of the most important luk thung vocalists in Thailand. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Mor lam

Main article: Mor lam

Khene player wearing sarong and pakama at the Ubon Candle Festival

Mor lam is the dominant folk music of Thailand's north-eastern Isan region, which has a mainly Lao population. It has much in common with luk thung, such as its focus on the life of the rural poor. It is characterized by rapid-fire, rhythmic vocals and a funk feel to the percussion. The lead singer, also called a mor lam, is most often accompanied by the khaen. A khene player in Isan Mor lam (Thai/Isan: หมอลำ) is an ancient Lao form of song in Laos and Isan (Northeastern Thailand). ... khene player wearing sarong and pakama at the Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... khene player wearing sarong and pakama at the Ubon Candle Festival; picture taken by User: Markalexander100 summer 2004; File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Isan (disambiguation). ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... A khene player in Isan The khene (also spelled kaen) is a mouth-organ whose pipes are connected with a small, hollowed-out wooden reservoir into which air is blown. ...

There are about fifteen regional variations of mor lam, plus modern versions such as mor lam sing. Some conservatives have criticized these as the commercialization of traditional cultures. Mor lam sing (Thai/Isan หมอลำซิ่ง)is a fast-paced, racy, modernized version of the traditional Lao/Isan song form mor lam. ...

Laos is dominated by the Lao, and includes minorities of Hmong and Mien, among others. ...

Kantrum

The people of Isan are also known for kantrum, which is much less famous for mor lam. Kantrum is played by Cambodians living near the border with Cambodia. It is a swift and very traditional dance music. In its purest form, cho-kantrum, singers, percussion and fiddles dominate the sound. A more modern form using electric instrumentation arose in the mid-1980s. Later in the decade, Darkie became the genre's biggest star, and he crossed into mainstream markets in the later 1990s. Kantrum (Thai กันตรึม)is a type of folk music played by Khmer in Isan, Thailand, living near the border with Cambodia. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... Darkie (Thai ดาร์กี้) is the most popular kantrum artist in Thailand. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ...

Music of Cambodia is classified into two forms, modern Cambodian culture is derived from the ancient Khmer Empire of the 8th to the 15th century. ...

Pop and rock

Wax figure of Khru Eua Sunthornsanan

By the 1930s, however, Western classical music, showtunes, jazz and tango were popular. Soon, jazz grew to dominate Thai popular music, and Khru Eua Sunthornsanan soon 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 434 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Music of Thailand Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 434 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Music of Thailand Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Showtune (New York production 2003) is a popular musical revue celebrating the words and music of Jerry Herman, the composer and lyricist of the Broadway musicals Milk and Honey (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), and La Cage aux Folles... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the early 1920s in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Tango music is traditionally played by an orquesta típica, which often includes violin, piano, guitar, flute, and especially bandoneon. ... King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: ; ) (born December 5, 1927), also known as King Rama IX and the Ninth Rama, has been King of Thailand since 9 June 1946. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ...

Pleng phua cheewit

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. The following decade saw Rewat Buddhinan beginning to use the Thai language in rock music. The 70s also saw the rise of protest songs called pleng phua cheewit (songs for life). The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Webb in Lucknow, India, on October 14, UKs most popular singers. ... Wong shadow was a genre of Thai pop music current in the early 1960s. ... String is a genre of Thai music roughly equivalent to western pop. ... The Thai language (ภาษาไทย, transcription: phasa thai; IPA ), is the national and official language of Thailand and the mother tongue of the Thai people, Thailands dominant ethnic group. ...

The earliest pleng phua cheewit band was called Caravan, and they soon emerged at the forefront of a movement for democracy. In 1976, police and rightwing 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 composed what is now their most famous song, "Khon Gap Kwaii". 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1976 calendar). ... มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ , Thailands prestigious university. ...

In the 1980s, pleng phua cheewit re-entered the mainsteam with a grant of amnesty to dissidents. Bands like Carabao became best-sellers and incorporated sternly nationalistic elements in their lyrics. By the 1990s, pleng phua cheewit had fallen from the top of the Thai charts, though artists like Pongsit Kamphee continued to command a large audience. The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... Carabao are a Thai plaeng peua chiwit or songs for life band. ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix Nationalism is an ideology that holds that (ethnically or culturally defined) nations are the fundamental units for human social life, and makes certain cultural and political claims based upon that belief; in particular, the claim that the nation is the only legitimate... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ...

String

String pop took over mainstream listeners in Thailand in the 90s, and bubblegum pop stars like Tata Young, Bird McIntyre and Asanee & Wasan became best-sellers. Simultaneously, Britpop influenced alternative rock artists like Modern Dog,Crub andPround became popular in late 1990s. In 2006, famous Thai rock bands include Big Ass, Bodyslam and Silly Fools. Bubblegum pop (bubblegum rock, bubblegum music) is a genre of popular music and rock and roll. ... Tata Young (born Amita Marie Young 14 December 1980 in Thailand) is a Thai pop singer and actress. ... Bird in a concert performance Bird McIntyre (born Albert Thongchai McIntyre, December 8, 1958) is a famous Thai pop singer who released his debut album in 1986. ... Britpop was a British alternative rock and cultural movement which gained popularity in Great Britain in the mid 1990s, characterised by the prominence of bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s. ... Seven album cover Big Ass is currently one of the most popular bands in Thailand. ... Believe album cover Bodyslam is a popular Thai rock band during the 2000s. ... Silly Fools is a Thai band that can be described as Modern Rock. ...

Indie

A group of independent artists and records which produces music for non-commercial propose also found in Thailand: Bakery music [1]; Smallroom [2]; FAT radio [3]; City-Blue [4]; Coolvoice [5]; Dudesweet [6]; Idea-radio [7] and Panda Records [8].

References

• Clewley, John. "Songs for Living". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific, pp 241-253. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
• Morton, David (1976). The Traditional Music of Thailand. University of California Press. ISBN 0520018761.

External links

• http://www.ethaimusic.com/index.php