music of thailand - group 1

Group 1Group 1

Geography and History Geography and History of Thailandof Thailand

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

Thailand is the world's Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms in terms of total area, with an area of approximately 513,000 of total area, with an area of approximately 513,000 kmkm22 (198,000 sq mi), and is the (198,000 sq mi), and is the 20th-most-populous country, with around 64 million , with around 64 million people. The capital and largest city is people. The capital and largest city is Bangkok, , which is Thailand's political, commercial, industrial which is Thailand's political, commercial, industrial and cultural hub. About 75% of the population is and cultural hub. About 75% of the population is ethnically ethnically Tai, 14% , 14% Thai Chinese, and 3% is , and 3% is ethnically ethnically Malay;;[1] the rest belong to minority the rest belong to minority groups including groups including Mons, , Khmers and various and various hill tribes. The country's official language is . The country's official language is Thai. . The primary religion is The primary religion is Buddhism, which is practiced , which is practiced by around 95% of the population.by around 95% of the population.

Borders of ThailandBorders of Thailand

To the north: Laos and BurmaTo the north: Laos and Burma To the east: Burma and CambodiaTo the east: Burma and Cambodia To the south: Gulf of Thailand and To the south: Gulf of Thailand and

MalaysiaMalaysia To the west: Andaman Sea and southern To the west: Andaman Sea and southern

extremity of Burmaextremity of Burma Its maritime boundaries includeIts maritime boundaries includeVietnam in the in the

Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and and India in the Andaman Sea to the in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.southwest.

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The Central Plain

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The Mountain of North-West Thailand

The Central Plain

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The Central Plain

North-east Thailand (The Khorat

Plateau) or I-san

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The Central Plain

South-east Thailand


Plateau) or I-san

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The Central Plain

Southern Thailand

South-east Thailand


Plateau) or I-san

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The Central Plain

Southern Thailand

South-east Thailand


Plateau) or I-san

Isthmus of Kra

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Isthmus of Kra

An isthmus

is a narrow piece of land with water on each side

which joins two

larger areas of

land.

GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

The country is a The country is a constitutional monarchy, , headed by King Rama IX, the ninth headed by King Rama IX, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who, having king of the House of Chakri, who, having reigned since 1946, is the reigned since 1946, is the world's longest-serving head of state and world's longest-serving head of state and the the longest-reigning monarch longest-reigning monarch in Thai in Thai history. The king of Thailand is titled history. The king of Thailand is titled Head of State, Head of the Armed Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Adherent of Buddhism, and Forces, Adherent of Buddhism, and Upholder of religions.Upholder of religions.

VOCAL MUSIC OF THAILANDVOCAL MUSIC OF THAILAND

Songs and singing activities are Songs and singing activities are highly important in Thailand.highly important in Thailand.

Thai music is written in various Thai music is written in various genres to suit particular occasion.genres to suit particular occasion.

They are the principal means of They are the principal means of expression in entertainment.expression in entertainment.

RITUAL SONGSRITUAL SONGS

Suod - The chanting of religious Suod - The chanting of religious verses that is used to worship spiritual verses that is used to worship spiritual and supernatural beings. The verse and supernatural beings. The verse are transmitted through oral tradition.are transmitted through oral tradition.

Thes – Ritual songs that are Thes – Ritual songs that are performed with improvisations that is performed with improvisations that is learned by memory. learned by memory. Not held as Not held as sacred as suod can be used in poetic sacred as suod can be used in poetic reading, recitation, and speech.reading, recitation, and speech.

ENTERTAINMENT SONGSENTERTAINMENT SONGS

Used to tell stories of customs and Used to tell stories of customs and traditions.traditions.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: PLAENG KLONDACK - The nursery PLAENG KLONDACK - The nursery

rhymes with irregular rhythmrhymes with irregular rhythm PLAENG BORK - Songs for male singer PLAENG BORK - Songs for male singer

that tell stories and news.that tell stories and news.

- Has a fixed musical - Has a fixed musical form. form.


SEBHA - Popular in Thailand.SEBHA - Popular in Thailand. - Has a fixed of 8 words per - Has a fixed of 8 words per

line.line.

- A pair of wooden sticks - A pair of wooden sticks known as KRAB is used to mark known as KRAB is used to mark rhythmic pattern.rhythmic pattern.

- Combination of three - Combination of three communication aspects singing, communication aspects singing, speaking and praying.speaking and praying.

KRABKRAB- - a pair of wooden sticks used to a pair of wooden sticks used to mark rhythmic patternmark rhythmic pattern


HAE RUEA - HAE RUEA - Boat song sung Boat song sung following the rhythm of the oarsmen.following the rhythm of the oarsmen.AEWKLOASAW - AEWKLOASAW - Song sung with a Song sung with a string instrument called saw as string instrument called saw as accompaniment.accompaniment.SANGKHARA - Beggar’s music that SANGKHARA - Beggar’s music that has been adapted for the puppet play has been adapted for the puppet play called HUN KRABORK.called HUN KRABORK.

DISTINCT AND UNIQUEDISTINCT AND UNIQUE

MUSIC OF THAILANDMUSIC OF THAILAND

CONTENTSCONTENTS

InfluencesInfluencesClassificationClassificationCharacteristicsCharacteristicsCharacteristics of Thai Characteristics of Thai musicmusic

INFLUENCESINFLUENCES

INDIAINDIACHINACHINACAMBODIACAMBODIABURMABURMALAOSLAOS

ORAL CULTUREORAL CULTURE

•““Knowledge” Knowledge” according to according to Buddhism, is a Buddhism, is a “frozen “frozen Dharmasastra…” or Dharmasastra…” or a fully developed yet a fully developed yet static system of the static system of the right formulas and right formulas and appropriate rules.appropriate rules.•Music and religion Music and religion are interlinked.are interlinked.•It was based on the It was based on the same fundamental same fundamental tenets.tenets.

TRADITIONAL THAI MUSICTRADITIONAL THAI MUSIC

FOLK MUSICFOLK MUSIC Extensively used by Extensively used by

people in the villages.people in the villages.

CLASSICAL MUSICCLASSICAL MUSIC Evolved in many royal Evolved in many royal

households and was households and was used both for used both for ceremonies and the ceremonies and the entertainment of the entertainment of the ruling class.ruling class.

FOLK MUSICFOLK MUSIC

• It is as diverse as the number of It is as diverse as the number of distinct regional traditions in the distinct regional traditions in the country.country.

• Most of these performances include Most of these performances include dances and festivities related to dances and festivities related to Buddhism.Buddhism.

STYLE OF FOLK MUSICSTYLE OF FOLK MUSIC

MORLAMMORLAM It is dominant in Thailand’s North-eastern It is dominant in Thailand’s North-eastern

region, mainly inhabited by the Lao population.region, mainly inhabited by the Lao population. It focuses on the dully life of the rural poor.It focuses on the dully life of the rural poor. It is characterized by rapid rhythmic vocals and It is characterized by rapid rhythmic vocals and

a funk style of percussion.a funk style of percussion. There are about 15 regional variations of There are about 15 regional variations of Mor Mor

Lam. Lam. These are however lately influenced by These are however lately influenced by modern Western music, and were later known modern Western music, and were later known as as “Mor Lam Sing.”“Mor Lam Sing.”


KANTRUMKANTRUM It is played by Cambodian population It is played by Cambodian population

in Thailand.in Thailand. It is a swift and traditional dance It is a swift and traditional dance

music.music. It is characterized by the dominant It is characterized by the dominant

sound of the sound of the Cho-kantrumCho-kantrum, vocal , vocal singers, percussion and fiddles.singers, percussion and fiddles.


LUK THUNGLUK THUNG Literally when combined as Literally when combined as Phleng Luk ThungPhleng Luk Thung

as “children of the fields.”as “children of the fields.” It became the more popular style of Thai It became the more popular style of Thai

country music which even now pervades some country music which even now pervades some 90% of radio air waves.90% of radio air waves.

It reflects the daily trials and difficulties of rural It reflects the daily trials and difficulties of rural folks.folks.

It has been developed only in the mid 20It has been developed only in the mid 20thth century, and is still now being further enriched century, and is still now being further enriched by influences coming from western music.by influences coming from western music.

CLASSICAL MUSICCLASSICAL MUSIC

It is held only at tourist attractions It is held only at tourist attractions and during formal ceremonies.and during formal ceremonies.

During the Bangkok Period (1768-During the Bangkok Period (1768-1932 A.D.), music and arts were 1932 A.D.), music and arts were revived. Thai classical music has been revived. Thai classical music has been then classified by level or then classified by level or “chan”, “chan”, based on the speed of the tempo. The based on the speed of the tempo. The level and scale combine to create level and scale combine to create specific feelings or emotions.specific feelings or emotions.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THAI MUSICCHARACTERISTICS OF THAI MUSIC

The beauty of the intricately The beauty of the intricately woven layers of rhythm and pitch.woven layers of rhythm and pitch.

CHARACTERISTICSCHARACTERISTICS

The performance of several variations The performance of several variations of a piece of music played by different of a piece of music played by different instruments or sung simultaneouslyinstruments or sung simultaneously. . Instrumentalists improvise idiomatically Instrumentalists improvise idiomatically around the central melody. This is around the central melody. This is known as known as HeterophonyHeterophony..

A A melodymelody is consisting of two or four is consisting of two or four measures that may joined by four other measures that may joined by four other phrase units to make a phrase block.phrase units to make a phrase block.


The tuning system is made up of seven The tuning system is made up of seven tempered tones to an octave. However, tempered tones to an octave. However, melodies are composed using only five melodies are composed using only five out of seven tones, very similar to the out of seven tones, very similar to the Chinese pentatonic scaleChinese pentatonic scale..

Rhythmically, their music is Rhythmically, their music is steady in tempo, steady in tempo, regular in pulses, done in simple duple regular in pulses, done in simple duple meter, without swing, and with the meter, without swing, and with the emphasis placed on the final beat of a emphasis placed on the final beat of a measure or group of phasesmeasure or group of phases, as opposed to , as opposed to European music.European music.


Thai music is characterized by the Thai music is characterized by the layering of the rhythms and layering of the rhythms and pitches rather than by the usual pitches rather than by the usual harmony, chord progressions, harmony, chord progressions, and melodiesand melodies which are so which are so important to Western music.important to Western music.

music of thailand - group 1

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